(Updates with quotes/details)
By John Mehaffey
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, April 19 - New Zealand
all-rounder Jacob Oram will miss his team's final World Cup
Super Eights match against world champions Australia on Friday
because of a bruised heel.
Coach John Bracewell told a news conference on Thursday that
Oram was expected to be fit for the semi-final against Sri Lanka
in Jamaica on Tuesday.
"That's one of the reasons he's not playing tomorrow,"
Bracewell said. "Given his position in the team it's a huge risk
to play him in a game that has no impact on the semi-finals."
Bracewell said the injury was already starting to get better
with rest and indicated that James Franklin could be promoted
from number nine to bat in Oram's position at six ahead of
wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori.