Cricket: Oram relaxed about being ditched from IPL

Jacob Oram has been replaced by his Chennai Super Kings IPL franchise, not that anybody has told him.

The big allrounder tore his patella tendon during the first one-day international against Australia early this month, but hoped to be able to return for the later rounds of the Indian Premier League.

"I haven't heard it officially anywhere, but that's fairly typical of Indian communication, but I've heard I've been replaced.

"Chennai did not want to roll the dice as to whether I would be fit in time."

The big-hitting left-hander admitted he was not overly worried about the situation, having his eyes on a bigger prize this year.

"The IPL is great from a personal point of view and great for a financial point of view but one of my big career goals is to win a world title for my country and I think we have a great chance to win the World Twenty20 [in the West Indies] this year."

Another series that has caught the eye of Oram is the three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka in the United States in May.

"It sounds an exciting concept, quite pioneering."

Oram said he was back running now and was hoping to start more intensive training soon.

Meanwhile, another injured allrounder looking to return to the fray, Grant Elliott, is hoping to pick up a short-term county deal with John Bracewell's Gloucestershire as he battles his way back to international cricket after a knee injury.