Not the poor man's Chris Cairns

Jacob Oram - back from injury - has had a great CB series averaging 241 from the first three matches. But the return hasn't been easy and the comparisons with Chris Cairns, a little frustrating. He talks to Jonathan Millmow of Fairfax Media about the technique of hitting out, texting Cairns and, taking his dog for a walk.

Oram has his own distinctive technique where he opens out his front hip and shoulder to create power and give him a hitting arc through the on-side. It can look agricultural and does shut off the off side but it is hard to criticise given his results over the last three games. "I used to try and bully it over the boundary, now I feel as though they can bowl different lengths and I can still hit them.

"Taking the dog for a walk is the best remedy (when you are down), he'll lick your face no matter what. All he wants is to go for a swim, he doesn't care if you've got zero or a hundred. That always brings you back to earth."