Jacob Oram

By Mark Geenty of NZPA

Napier, March 3 NZPA - Jacob Oram's future in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy cricket series is in grave doubt while Daniel Vettori is expected back on Saturday as New Zealand's bowlers battled well amid injury calamity today.

After a pained Oram limped off with a twisted left knee and Vettori was ruled out with a neck injury, Australia posted 275 for eight batting first in the one-day series opener on a McLean Park belter.

Oram had delivered seven tidy overs, taking the key wicket of Shane Watson in figures of one for 29, before disaster struck in the 28th over as he fielded a seemingly innocuous single to Australia's topscorer Michael Hussey (59 off 59 balls).

His spikes appeared to grab in the turf as he fell to the ground, writhing in pain. He was carried off a sweltering McLean Park by teammates Tim Southee and James Franklin, departing to a warm ovation.

"His knee is painful, it's still unclear what it is and there will be further investigation in Auckland tomorrow and we'll assess after that," New Zealand manager Dave Currie said.

"It's pretty painful at the moment so we'll have to wait and see."

If there is ligament damage then Oram's series will certainly be over and his participation in the lucrative Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings later this month will be highly doubtful. Currie said no one had yet been summoned as cover, but Otago's Ian Butler appeared next in line for a callup.

The news was better for Vettori who was ruled out just before the toss when the chronic neck problem he aggravated at training yesterday didn't respond as hoped.

"His neck had a kink in it yesterday but he thought he would be all right. Even warming up today he thought he would be all right but he wasn't and there was no point taking any risk on it," Currie said.

"He is fully expected to be back next game (in Auckland on Saturday)."

It meant a first ODI as captain for Ross Taylor and a late callup for Scott Styris, who conceded a useful 27 off six overs.

Twelfth man Nathan McCullum fielded for the second half of the innings and took a boundary catch to dismiss tailender Nathan Hauritz.

A total of well over 300 looked on after Watson (45 off 31) blazed away but Oram and Tuffey (3-58) stemmed the flow.

Paceman Shane Bond was fast and accurate, ending with two for 50 including the key wickets of Brad Haddin and Hussey.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting had a life on 25 when umpire Tony Hill missed an edge off Tim Southee, but was removed for 44 by a brilliant Guptill catch off James Franklin.

Southee, the star of the Twenty20 victory in Christchurch, suffered early on against Watson and eventually took one for 66 off eight overs.

The fielding was excellent throughout and the New Zealand death bowling was sound, conceding 82 off the final 10 including the power play. They bowled a solitary wide in the innings which saw just two extras conceded in all.