Jacob Oram has announced his retirement from Test cricket, but said Oram remains committed to representing New Zealand in limited-over international Matches.
The retirement is effectual immediately. Jacob Oram said that after ongoing fights with injury he hoped a decreased workload would allow him to extend his international playing career.
"I have decided to retire from Test cricket match. This decision has been a very hard one and has not been made without careful deliberation and discussion with those closest to me," Oram said.
"The last few years have exposed that my body cannot handle the strains and stresses that come with being an all-rounder, playing all three formats for up to 10 months a year.
"For the sake of longevity I have had to make a decision that will decrease my workload, so I can concentrate all my efforts on the shorter forms of the game.
"The decision to choose limited-overs cricket over Test cricket has a lot to do with playing chances. The BlackCaps play a lot more limited overs cricket than Tests, and there's also the chance to continue playing in world events such as the World Cup, World T20 and Champions Trophy, as well as the IPL.
"The opportunity to expend more time at home with my family including my first child, due next month, is also a major motive for deciding to pull back on playing commitments and time away from home.
"I have attempted to delay any decision about my future career path for some time now. However in light of my latest injury at the Champions Trophy it has became clear to me that now is the time to give up something to try and stay in the game longer.
"I am hoping this conclusion extends my career. I do not want to put an exact time frame on that, as I have learnt that sometimes my body and my mind are on dissimilar wavelengths.
"The ICC World Cup in 2011 is a main focus for me and I am highly motivated to be fit and firing for that. Eventually, I would like to go for a couple of seasons after that, but as I said I am reluctant to put a fixed date on it.
Jacob Oram has played 33 Tests since his debut in December 2002, scoring 1780 runs at an average of 36.32. His record contains five hundreds and six fifties, with a high score of 133 against South Africa at Centurion in April 2006.
With the ball Oram has taken 60 Test wickets at an average of 33.05. His best Test bowling of 4-41 came against India at Hamilton in 2002. For a period in 2008 he was in the top five ICC rankings for Test all-rounders.
The retirement is effectual immediately. Jacob Oram said that after ongoing fights with injury he hoped a decreased workload would allow him to extend his international playing career.
"I have decided to retire from Test cricket match. This decision has been a very hard one and has not been made without careful deliberation and discussion with those closest to me," Oram said."The last few years have exposed that my body cannot handle the strains and stresses that come with being an all-rounder, playing all three formats for up to 10 months a year.
"For the sake of longevity I have had to make a decision that will decrease my workload, so I can concentrate all my efforts on the shorter forms of the game.
"The decision to choose limited-overs cricket over Test cricket has a lot to do with playing chances. The BlackCaps play a lot more limited overs cricket than Tests, and there's also the chance to continue playing in world events such as the World Cup, World T20 and Champions Trophy, as well as the IPL.
"The opportunity to expend more time at home with my family including my first child, due next month, is also a major motive for deciding to pull back on playing commitments and time away from home.
"I have attempted to delay any decision about my future career path for some time now. However in light of my latest injury at the Champions Trophy it has became clear to me that now is the time to give up something to try and stay in the game longer.
"I am hoping this conclusion extends my career. I do not want to put an exact time frame on that, as I have learnt that sometimes my body and my mind are on dissimilar wavelengths.
"The ICC World Cup in 2011 is a main focus for me and I am highly motivated to be fit and firing for that. Eventually, I would like to go for a couple of seasons after that, but as I said I am reluctant to put a fixed date on it.
Jacob Oram has played 33 Tests since his debut in December 2002, scoring 1780 runs at an average of 36.32. His record contains five hundreds and six fifties, with a high score of 133 against South Africa at Centurion in April 2006.
With the ball Oram has taken 60 Test wickets at an average of 33.05. His best Test bowling of 4-41 came against India at Hamilton in 2002. For a period in 2008 he was in the top five ICC rankings for Test all-rounders.
