Chris Drum, Grant Bradburn and Jacob Oram selected for second Test

Chris Drum, Grant Bradburn and Jacob Oram selected for second Test
New Zealand Cricket - 12 March 2001

Auckland swing bowler Chris Drum, Northern Districts' off-spin bowler Grant Bradburn and Central Districts' batting all-rounder Jacob Oram have been called into the CLEAR Black Caps for the second National Bank Series Test against Pakistan.

Drum, Bradburn and Oram join the squad of 12 in place of James Franklin, Paul Wiseman and Brooke Walker.

Chairman of selectors, Sir Richard Hadlee, said the nature of the defeat in the first Test - all out in the second innings for 131 runs - was extremely disappointing for all involved.

"The main weaknesses exposed were a lack of depth in the batting and the inability of the spin bowling to either restrict runs or take wickets."

Hadlee said the addition of Bradburn would strengthen the lower order batting and the spin bowler had earned his chance by producing excellent form over the domestic season. The 34-year-old Bradburn had an excellent Shell Trophy taking 24 wickets at an average of 27.37 including one five-wicket bag. Bradburn has played 16 seasons of first class cricket and has previously played for New Zealand in five Tests, the last being against Sri Lanka in December 1992. He has also played seven One Day Internationals.

Jacob Oram is included in the twelve to provide a 3rd/4th seam bowling option combined with some batting form. Oram scored 88 as captain of the New Zealand 'A' side in its three-day match against Pakistan prior to the Test.

Hadlee said James Franklin hadn't been able to swing the ball as much as the selectors would have liked and had also failed to deliver with the bat. Chris Drum therefore receives a chance to make his Test debut. Drum is the leading wicket taker in first class cricket this summer having 47 wickets at an average of less than 20. In the New Zealand 'A' game he took eight wickets, 4-42 in each innings.

Walker, Wiseman and Franklin have all been included in a Selection XI side to play Central Districts at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln University, 19-21 March. Hadlee said all three remained in contention for the final Test match.

The Selection XI will be named later today by media release from New Zealand Cricket.

The second National Bank Series Test will be played at Jade Stadium Christchurch starting this Thursday 22 March. Play starts at 10.30am.

The CLEAR Black Caps travel to Christchurch tomorrow morning on NZ flight 515 departing 9.45 arriving 11.05 am and are scheduled to practice at Jade Stadium in the afternoon.

Teams	New Zealand.
Tours	Pakistan in New Zealand