But he was still hurt by it.
The injury-prone all-rounder was forced home from the tour of Bangladesh with a lower back injury and watched the television coverage as his team-mates' fate was sealed in Australia.
"I suppose I was not part of the criticism but that does not mean it didn't hurt me watching the games," he said.
"We all agree that we did not play to our potential [in Bangladesh] and obviously the loss in Australia was disappointing. So we've got to make sure we're at somewhere near our best here, we're competitive and we're able to push the West Indies, who I think will be a tough side."
Black Caps wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum was in Australia and felt the pain first-hand.
"We know what we did over there was not good enough," McCullum said.
"We have high expectations of ourselves to perform and I think we are our harshest critics. So, while you get some sprays in the media . . . that's nothing [compared] to what you are feeling within yourself."
Oram missed new coach Andy Moles' first day on the job [Monday] and joined the camp yesterday, after helping Central Districts beat Otago by eight wickets.
"From what I've heard from guys who have played under him he is very organised, a great communicator and top man-manager. So I'm looking forward to those sort of benefits for the side."
McCullum said the team had a great training session on Monday despite being forced indoors because of poor weather.
He found the change refreshing rather than unsettling.
"[Monday] was fantastic. We trained hard and there seems to be a pretty good feel within the group.
"There is huge emphasis on us performing well during this series. We desperately want to win at home and try and start the climb back up the ladder in terms of the test rankings."
The West Indies are the seventh-ranked test nation, one ahead of New Zealand.
The Black Caps have an opportunity to reverse that order with a win in the first test in Dunedin, starting tomorrow.
Oram believes the sides are evenly match but underlined the Windies' powerful batting as the main threat.
Of most concern to the Black Caps' bowling attack will be the form of the No 1 test batsman in the world, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
"When you look at Chanderpaul and the two years he's had, there are not a lot of chinks in his armour. So you just have to be patient, consistent and wait for that mistake which everyone does make at some time."
The unorthodox left-hander has an unusual stance and moves about in the crease, which Oram said could be off-putting.
"It can be if you don't have a plan for that and just run up and think it is another guy and I'm just going to bowl here and he does something different. It can just change your focus. But if you know what is coming and you are pretty focused . . . then it shouldn't be a problem."
"My [bowling] plans don't change to whoever I'm bowling. I just try and go for as little runs as I can. I'm not a wicket-taker as such - my wickets per test and strike rate suggest that. But I just try and do my job, which is to go at a low RPO [runs per over] and create pressure from one end for someone to attack at the other end."
