The summer of 2000/2001 will always rank high whatever the future holds for Jacob Oram.

* Captain of the Shell Cup-winning Central Districts team which achieved the near impossible in beating Canterbury twice at Jade Stadium coming from 1-0 down to win the best-of-three final series.

* Called in to the CLEAR Black Caps during the Zimbabwe series and emerging as a player with a future in international play.

* Hitter of the winning runs, a six over point from the world's fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar, albeit bowling off a short run up, to help New Zealand to a National Bank series win in the one-day series at Dunedin on Wednesday.

* And, tomorrow, captain of a New Zealand A team which will play the touring Pakistan side at Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln University.

Oram does admit that the summer has all gone a little quickly to fully appreciate just what he has done, but one of the first things he is going to do over the winter is sit back and take stock of all that has happened.

Before then, however, he has to lead the A team and he is looking forward to that.

"Everybody has just finished their season. They are fresh off the Shell Trophy so there will be no problems being ready for this game.

"It is only a three-day game so there is not really the chance of a result unless something dramatic happens and I wouldn't be surprised if Pakistan pick all their batsmen and just tell them to get some practice," Oram said.

"But it would be great for New Zealand cricket if we could keep them down after the one-day series loss to help the CLEAR Black Caps in the Test series.

"Ours is a very good side. Often a lot of A teams could be described as Development or Academy teams but this is a proper A side with a mixture of experience and a couple of younger guys like myself and Lou Vincent.

"We've got guys like Chris Drum, who has had an outstanding summer, and Andrew Penn, who has got a lot to prove, while Brooke Walker is also looking for chances. It is an exciting team," Oram said.

Returning to Lincoln will also remind Oram of his first-class debut on Lincoln Green. Tomorrow's game is on the Bert Sutcliffe Oval which was the venue for the recent CricInfo Women's World Cup final.

"It is a fantastic facility. The pitch looks a little green at the moment but it looks like it will be hard and fast for the match, the outfield is great and we have our fingers crossed that the weather will be all right," he said.

If it does rain then Oram should have a chance to reflect on Wednesday night's activities when he and Chris Harris combined to see New Zealand home for victory when it looked to doubters that New Zealand might let the chance for victory slip.

"I ran downstairs from our viewing box when Macca [Craig McMillan] got out. I only had my box and thigh guard on when Lou Vincent was out and was still putting my pad on when Adam Parore was out," he recalled.

Oram walked out to face a hat-trick for the controversial Shoaib Akhtar who was bowling off a short run due to his thigh injury but still generating plenty of pace.

Partner Chris Harris did not say anything to him before the first ball.

"But I knew Shoaib would bowl straight and full to try and get an lbw," he said.

Oram kept the ball out and then discussed the situation with Harris who pointed out that the field was pretty spread out and the singles were there if they ran hard and there could also be some twos.

"The balls left weren't a problem although that five [due to an over throw for four] was a help.

"It was nice to hit the winning runs, especially off Shoaib. He may have been off only eight paces but he was still pretty quick," he said.

Akhtar was also quick to congratulate Oram. The pair sat beside each other at the series launch and had a chat about the injury problems they had been attempting to get over and during the tour they had a couple of long chats while both were recuperating from their injuries.

"I actually found him good value and he said to me, 'well done', at the end of it all," he said.

Oram intends to enjoy his thinking about the summer when he gets the chance.

"We have played so much cricket, especially the one-day variety. It seemed that every second day we were in a new place.

"It was a hard season and I admit I have got a taste for it.

"I know that with the guys coming back from injury I'm going to have to try raising my level to stay in the side.

"I'm going to work hard on my fitness over the winter, increase my agility and keep setting higher standards in the field and to try and get a few km/h out of my bowling," he said.

Oram also enjoyed his role as a floating batsman in the side. He likes to be positive and aggressive in his role and knows that his extra height (he is 2.01m tall) allows him to get well down the pitch to spinners in a way that others can't.

"I mightn't get to score centuries but if I can get 30-50 at a run a ball or better, and raise the scoring rate from four to four and a half to five or five and a half, then I will be doing my job," he said.

From an international perspective Oram has been one of the finds of the season and is one of the more complete units to have come through New Zealand's Academy system. He bats well, he bowls effectively and his fielding, with his albatross-like wing span, makes him a huge asset in the cover point area.

The last has not been heard of Jacob Oram.

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