KEY POINTS:
The battle isn't yet over for New Zealand allrounder Jacob Oram in this England series despite his breakthrough century at Lord's.
Oram admitted he was still some way off his best as he eyes a rematch with his nemesis Ryan Sidebottom at Old Trafford in Manchester tomorrow.
The England paceman also wasn't at his best in the drawn first test, still taking six for 120 for the match - but he removed Oram twice to make it five dismissals from their last six jousts.
As Oram basked in the afterglow of earning a coveted spot on the Lord's honours board for his match-saving 101, he urged caution for people expecting a flood of runs to follow.
"The major problem is Sidebottom," he said.
"For only small periods I felt like I was in real control. Even scattered between boundaries were balls that I felt snuck up on me, or I knew I wasn't in the right position.
"I know I'm not at my best, that's why it was such a great moment for me to bring up the hundred - my best, but it was still an unbelievable place to succeed at."
It means plenty more hours in the nets in the next few days with batting coach Mark O'Neill, continuing the time they spent in the Lord's nets before the first test.
The Lord's century was a welcome relief for Oram, who'd been in a run drought since his 133 against South Africa at Centurion in April 2006.
Other than his 117 against Bangladesh in Dunedin in January, he'd scored 182 runs in 17 test innings at an average of 13 heading into the England tour.
The dangerman is clear for Oram in Manchester, despite Sidebottom and his England bowling cohorts being criticised for failing to run through the New Zealand batting order in helpful conditions at Lord's.
With a pacier pitch expected at Old Trafford, the home pacemen will target New Zealand's inexperienced batting order, with McCullum and Oram now the key wickets.
"[Sidebottom's] bowling extremely well at the moment, and test cricket is about getting through these challenges," Oram said.
"The pleasing thing for me was to come through a tough period in the last three months against these guys and do well against them, especially Sidebottom."
Oram was reluctant to say whether New Zealand would take an edge into the second test after their final day fightback.
But he said debutants Aaron Redmond and Daniel Flynn would be better for the big first test experience, as would 19-year-old Tim Southee.
"It's still 0-0 with two to play. While we were in a touchy position in the morning with a bit of pressure on us, we felt we'd fought our way out of that pressure situation to have a bit of momentum at the end of the day's play.
"The dressing room was pretty jovial but we've got to realise it's just a draw, not a win.
"From what we hear [Old Trafford] is going to be a quicker wicket, and that may bring our seamers into play a bit more. But it will bring their seamers into play as well.
"The morale is great. The team realises how hard this 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 them ... We know we can compete if we play to our best."
- NZPA
