New Zealand's cricket selectors must have issued a collective prayer when hearing that CLEAR Black Cap Jacob Oram had been diagnosed with a broken bone in his foot.

After almost providing permanent work for New Zealand's health service with an amazing bout of injuries last summer, the last thing the selectors want is injuries before a ball has been bowled in the domestic cricket season.

But that's what they got when Oram was examined after his injury was realised during a training session at Palmerston North at the weekend.

Oram wasn't sure where the injury occurred but after returning from New Zealand A's tour of India he found the injury in his left foot got progressively worse the more he practised.

He faces four weeks keeping the pressure off his foot while on crutches and while he may be able to bat in six weeks, he won't be able to bowl for another four weeks after that.

That puts him on a tight schedule to get match hardened in readiness for his near certain selection for New Zealand's VB Series team which travels to Australia in early January.

Oram, the tallest man to play cricket for New Zealand at 1.98m, made his debut last summer in the Black Caps and quickly cemented his place with a string of good performances. A batsman who has quickly developed his bowling he is regarded as a developing force in the national side.

He captained Central Districts during the last domestic summer and took them to a celebrated Shell Cup victory.

© CricInfo