Oram faces anxious wait after breaking finger

WELLINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram faces an anxious wait before knowing whether he will go to the World Cup after breaking a finger in his team's 10-wicket win over Australia.

Oram has already been replaced by Peter Fulton for the remaining two matches in the Chappell-Hadlee series and will visit a specialist on Monday to determine the extent of the damage.

Team officials are hopeful Oram can still go to the World Cup, starting in the West Indies next month, although he may have to miss some early matches.

''Jacob will see a specialist in Hamilton on Monday to determine the management of the injury,'' New Zealand general manager Lindsay Crocker said in a statement.

''He will remain with the squad to keep on track with his World Cup preparations. At this stage, we are confident he will travel to the World Cup.'' Oram broke the third finger on his left hand while taking a routine catch to dismiss Mitchell Johnson at Wellington and immediately left the field to go to a nearby hospital where X-rays confirmed the fracture.

Oram, 28, is a key figure in New Zealand's World Cup plans because of his all-round abilities and powerful lower-order batting.

He was one of the team's best players during the recent tri-series in Australia, scoring the fastest ever one-day century by a New Zealander when he blasted an unbeaten hundred off 71 balls against the hosts in Perth.

REUTERS SAM HS1242