Oram provides all-round threat to England in second test

LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - Spectators lamenting the absence of Andrew Flintoff in the first test between England and New Zealand were consoled by the performances of an all-rounder who at the moment is superior to the Englishman.

Jacob Oram bowled with miserly accuracy in England's first innings at Lord's, taking two for 45 from 19 overs. He batted stubbornly for 28 in the Kiwis' first innings and then played a match-savings innings of 101 in the second.

If Flintoff had not been sidelined by a side strain, he would have led the England attack after bowling with all his old pace and fire in the county championship this year.

But his batting has been in steady decline since his heroics in the 2005 Ashes series and England would not have taken the risk of dropping a batsman to accommodate him.

Flintoff still averages a passable 32.50 with the bat in test cricket but his average is only marginally ahead of his bowling average of 32.02. Oram averages 37.97 with the bat and his wickets have cost 29.86, the figures of a genuine all-rounder.

Oram, a giant of a man standing 1.98 metres tall, has suffered as much as Flintoff from stress-related injuries and missed 10 of New Zealand's past 23 tests.

With the ball he is fast-medium at his speediest, accurate and probing with the ability to extract disconcerting bounce; with the bat he can be devastating with his long reach and great strength.

HIGH MORALE

Oram brought up his century at Lord's with three sumptuous boundaries off Ryan Sidebottom, a bowler who troubled all the Kiwi batsmen in this year's series in New Zealand.

"The major problem is Sidebottom," he told reporters. "For only small periods I felt like I was in total control. I know I'm not at my best, that's why it was such a great moment for me to bring up my hundred."

The England fast bowlers will target Oram and the Kiwis' other two main threats Brendon McCullum and captain Daniel Vettori on the bouncy Old Trafford pitch in the second test starting in Manchester on Friday.

However, Oram's century ensured New Zealand left Lord's with honours at least even after they had been written off in most quarters and their seamers will look forward to Old Trafford as much as the England bowlers.

"The morale is great," Oram said. "The team realises how hard his series is, but at the same time we've got such a young side that they bring enthusiasm and excitement to the senior guys around.

"We're just feeding off that and having a great time. We know we can compete if we play to our best."

(Editing by Padraic Halpin)