Profiles / Editor / 28 February 2007 /

New Zealand star all-rounder Jacob Oram has sensationally revealed that he would be willing to amputate his finger if it means he can then play in the World Cup.

The hard-hitting Kiwi broke his ring finger in the first Chappell-Hadlee Trophy match with the Australians and was forced to sit out the remaining two encounters as the Black Caps went on to secure a 3-0 whitewash.

The 6ft 5" star is one of New Zealand's most potent weapons in 50-over cricket and was in sensational form in the recent Commonwealth Bank Series with England and the Aussies, smashing the ball to all parts en route to his maiden one-day century.

However, he injured his finger while taking a routine catch to dismiss Mitchell Johnson in Wellington and is set to try specially designed splints and pain-killing injections in an attempt to ease the pain.

If that does not work then it could mean the 28-year-old takes drastic action to ensure he makes it onto the pitch in the Caribbean.

"If it means cutting the finger off, if that's the worse-case scenario, if that's the last resort, I'll do that, there's no way I'm missing this," he told NZPA.

The injured digit has been strapped up since the incident occurred and Oram admitted that he does not expect to have to lose the finger in order to play in the prestigious tournament.

"The plan is get to the West Indies, whip it off and assess the inflammation," he added. "We've got a couple of techniques in terms of taping and a couple of guards which are a lot thinner so they can fit into a batting glove. I'm confident it'll be fine."

The Kiwis face England in their opening fixture and it may well be that Oram is rested until the latter stages of the tournament.

But Stephen Fleming's men are currently the 1.98 favourites to top Group C, with England on offer at 2.02, Kenya available at 75 and Canada trading at 150.

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