 Do we have another Andrew Flintoff in the making? Maybe yes, as New
Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram is reportedly considering his retirement
from the Test cricket owing to an injury-ridden show for almost all his career.
This time it was his latest problem, hamstring injury, that forced him to go
back home without playing even a single game in the recently concluded Champions Trophy in South Africa. Though his team made it to the final and lost to
Australia but having Oram in the squad might have changed a lot for New Zealand.
Oram is quiet much disappointed about missing out on an International Cricket Council (ICC) event which holds special relevance on the international stage.
He was quoted saying by a newspaper that he is particularly unhappy with his
latest injury and missing out on an important ICC event. "I am obviously
gutted with my latest injury and missing out on an ICC event. These events are
particularly special," he said.
Though he is yet to make a final announcement of his decision to retire from
a format or formats but it is predicted that he may take leave from two formats
of the game and be committed to twenty20 format only. "At the moment I
am spending some time assessing my future and trying to work out what is best
for me and the Black Caps," he said.
While Oram is still pondering, Heath Mills, New Zealand Cricket Players'
Association executive manager hinted that Oram might be considering retirement
from two forms of the game. "Jacob, I know, has been thinking pretty hard
about his future at the moment. He's had a horrible run with injury of late
and there's no question that the demands of playing cricket 11 months of the
year across the three formats are starting to take its toll on his body,"
said Mills. He also added that, "Unfortunately, as we all know, this is
not a new issue for Jacob to contemplate. But he is an intelligent and thoughtful
guy who, I am sure, after due process will make the right decision for his cricket
whatever that may be".
However, it seems that more and more cricketers are planning to bid adieu to
one or more formats of the game, following the suite of England all-rounder
Andrew Flintoff and Australian batsman Andrew Symonds. While Flintoff
has opted for freelancing now, it might be the same plan that Oram is thinking
to follow.
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