Cricket: Knee injury ends Oram's series as team wait for Vettori verdict

Jacob Oram is helped off the field with an injury during the first ODI at McLean Park in Napier. Photo / Getty Images

Jacob Oram is out of the rest of the Chappell Hadlee Trophy and there is doubt over whether New Zealand captain Dan Vettori will be fit for tomorrow's second game of the ODI series at Eden Park.

Big all-rounder Oram suffered a partial tear of the patella tendon in his left knee fielding during Wednesday's rousing two-wicket win in Napier.

He is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks.

As Oram has retired from test cricket, it will also impact on his involvement for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, which starts on March 12.

Central Districts' fast-medium bowler Michael Mason - not seen in national colours since the last of his 25 ODIs in July 2008 - comes into the squad.

The group will be re-selected for the remainder of the series after tomorrow's match.

Mason finished equal top wicket-taker in the domestic one-day competition, with 14 at 30 runs apiece. Otago's Ian Butler, who might have been first cab off the rank, was counted out by injury.

Vettori, whose late withdrawal from the Napier match with a neck strain opened the way for match-winner Scott Styris to play, remains a fingers-crossed proposition.

"He's not 100 per cent certain [to play]," New Zealand manager Dave Currie said yesterday.

"The neck was a bit stiff. We'll see how he wakes in the morning.

"He's feeling a bit more comfortable and he'll hopefully be fine."

The high-octane win in Napier, plus the eyeball to eyeball confrontation between Styris and Australian quick Mitchell Johnson, which earned both a fine from match referee Ranjan Madugalle, is certain to add juice to tomorrow's match.

Eden Park sold out days ago - although in this instance, thanks to rugby World Cup reconstruction work, the capacity is limited to 12,235.

New Zealand's bowling coach, former Australian first-class seamer Shane Jurgensen, said yesterday there would be no easing off if things got tasty at Eden Park.

"We don't want to back down. We don't want to be mouthy, we don't want to be verbally aggressive, that's not what we want to do," Jurgensen said.

"But yeah, we are going to stand up for ourselves."

New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum won't be surprised to see more sparks fly through the remainder of the series.

"You saw two guys who are extremely passionate trying to pull through for their country.

"I am sure once we get out there next time then there will be a little bit of fight in both teams."

Which sounds like, by some distance, the understatement of the summer.