Cricket: Oram given the nod as McMillan loses race

7.45am - By MARK GEENTY

LEEDS - New Zealand have put faith in allrounder Jacob Oram's batting talents as Craig McMillan lost the race to be fit for the second cricket test against England starting here tonight (10pm NZT).

Oram was today named to bat at No 6 after being ruled out as a bowler with a side strain, while McMillan was in too much discomfort on his broken little finger to hold a bat effectively at training today.

It means opener Michael Papps was recalled for his fourth test in the only change from the seven-wicket loss in the first test at Lord's, meaning New Zealand take in just three frontline pacemen in Daryl Tuffey, Chris Martin and Chris Cairns.

There was still concern over captain Stephen Fleming who was struck down by an ear infection and missed training today, but still named to lead the side in the No 3 spot.

He was absent for the pre-test team meeting after being put in quarantine by medical staff.

"It's important we keep him away from the others, he's infectious. But he's a lot better with medication," manager Lindsay Crocker said.

Mathew Sinclair remained with the side as cover for Fleming if he were to be ruled out on match morning.

Coach John Bracewell favoured a bowling attack of just three pacemen, allrounder Scott Styris and spinner Daniel Vettori after admitting the six-strong attack was less effective at Lord's.

"It lessens the options available to the captain, which means he has to heighten the talent that he uses and be more specific about it," Bracewell said.

"We were pretty well one bowler, shared between two loads, redundant in that last test.

"We know we have to be competitive throughout the test match, and if there's an environment that suits us of the three venues, this is it with the bowlers we have.

"With Jacob we're playing a guy who is 100 per cent fit by the medical staff to do everything except bowl.

"We feel he's at no risk at all unless he throws off balance."

Oram has prospered at six in his short test career, scoring an excellent 67 in the first innings at Lord's and averaging 41.63 from 11 matches.

It places more heat on Cairns, playing his second-to-last test, to step up as an attacking option after being mainly a fourth seamer during the home summer.

He hit his straps against Leicestershire at the weekend with four for 48 in the first innings and looked in good shape to exploit the variable pitch at Headingley.

Cairns also has family history at the ground, with his father Lance taking a man of the match 10-wicket haul when New Zealand beat England in their previous test here in 1983.

"Chris would have liked to have bowled more in the last test, and expressed that, and spent much of the Leicestershire game picking up his workload," Bracewell said.

"We're more than happy with the preparation he's had."

The toss will be an important one tonight with a typically overcast morning expected and the toss winner likely to bowl first.

It is a pressure situation for Papps, who scored 59 on test debut against South Africa in Hamilton after a matchwinning 92 not out in the final one-dayer in Napier.

Papps has since scored just 27 from five test innings, and was dismissed by two good deliveries for nought and 20 against Leicestershire.

England were deciding between spinner Ashley Giles and allrounder Paul Collingwood for their final spot.

The last four tests at the ground have produced results, with England losing to South Africa and India in the past two years after beating West Indies and Australia -- the West Indies in a remarkable 13 hour match.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Michael Papps, Mark Richardson, Scott Styris, Nathan Astle, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Chris Cairns, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Chris Martin.

England (from): Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison, Paul Collingwood, Martin Saggers.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies), Simon Taufel (Australia).

- NZPA