Cricket: Oram to play through pain barrier

Jacob Oram

New Zealand cricket allrounder Jacob Oram will play through the pain barrier at the World Cup after a medical assessment confirmed his fractured finger will need further treatment after the tournament ends in April.

Oram, who visited a specialist in Hamilton yesterday, will leave for the West Indies with the New Zealand team next Wednesday sporting a splint to protect the ring finger on his left hand.

It is unclear whether he will play in the Black Caps opening pool game against England on March 16.

Oram suffered the injury when catching Mitchell Johnson during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy opener in Wellington last Friday, the 10-wicket win which paved the way for the Black Caps series win.

The hard-hitting middle order batsman and medium-fast pace bowler will also have pain relieving injections in the Caribbean.

- NZPA