Jacob David Philip Oram (born 28 July 1978) is a former New Zealand international cricketer who represented his country across all three formats of the game for a decade. A left-handed middle to lower-order batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler, Oram was valued as a genuine all-rounder and was a regular fixture in the New Zealand sides during his playing years.
| Full name | Jacob David Philip Oram |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 July 1978 |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) |
| Batting | Left-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Role | All-rounder |
| Domestic team | Manawatu (Hawke Cup) |
| IPL team | Mumbai Indians |
| International career length | 10 years |
Standing at 1.98 metres (6 ft 6 in), Oram is a notably tall sportsman. Before establishing himself in cricket, he was a schoolboy representative as a football goalkeeper, an early indicator of his all-round athletic ability.
At the domestic level in New Zealand, Oram played for the Manawatu cricket team in the Hawke Cup, the country's premier domestic competition for non-first-class district associations.
Oram also featured in the Indian Premier League, where he turned out for the Mumbai Indians franchise, adding to New Zealand's representation in Twenty20 leagues abroad.
Oram's combination of skills with bat and ball made him a regular member of the New Zealand international sides. While he typically batted in the middle to lower order in Tests, he was particularly effective in limited-overs cricket. His bowling found greater success in the shorter formats, and he climbed as high as fifth in the ICC ODI Player Rankings for bowling. As an all-rounder he occupied the position of World No. 1 ODI all-rounder on several occasions during his career.
Oram's name appears on the Lord's Honours Boards for his Test century against England in 2008, recognising one of the defining performances of his red-ball career.
Oram is remembered as one of New Zealand's leading all-rounders of his era. His tall frame, awkward seam-up bowling and capable lower-order hitting made him a particularly valuable asset in one-day internationals, where his rankings reflected his standing among the world's leading all-rounders.