KEY POINTS:
Mathew Sinclair feels like a bloke who has fallen off the back of an ocean liner and been thrown a lifebelt.
And if he gets his chance next year, he won't die wondering as he goes about justifying the selectors' choice to give him a belated New Zealand Cricket contract after Hamish Marshall said thanks but no thanks.
Sinclair yesterday confirmed that he's accepted the contract, and there was a mix of relief, pleasure and resolve as he explained what it meant.
"Motivation is the biggest part of it. I feel like I've been given another lifeline," he said.
"I'm lucky enough to get this contract as it is and now I have to go out, score a heap of runs and be ready at the right time to go into the team and prove I can do it."
He has proved he can do it, just not often enough. Sinclair is 31, and his test career spans seven years, beginning with a remarkable 214 on debut against the West Indies at the Basin Reserve in December 1999.
There are two other big centuries, 150 (out of 298) against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in December 2000, when no one else reached 40, and 204 not out against Pakistan at Christchurch three months later.
In the next 24 innings he managed just three 50s.
And that's the nub of the issue. Those who reckon he doesn't warrant another contract point to the substantial troughs; those in his camp cling to the notion that having achieved the big numbers before he can do so again.
He's aware of his reputation _ too many lows over a long period of time _ and although it may be too late to make full amends, an older, wiser Sinclair can at least partially put things right in the coming year.
Although Sinclair is technically an encumbent in the test team, having been recalled after a 13-test absence for the two internationals against Sri Lanka late last year, it will be a stretch for him to make the New Zealand side to tour South Africa in November.
He will have had no cricket of any note to prove his readiness, whereas his rivals, such as Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor and Lou Vincent, are likely to figure in the world Twenty20 championship squad _ okay, as relevant to test cricket as sevens rugby to the real thing, but at least it's something.
Sinclair knows it, rating his chances of making the South African trip as "virtually nil", and is eyeing the incoming series against Bangladesh and England, and next year's tour to England as more realistic targets, packed as they are with eight tests.
The early first-class games for Central Districts are critical. Sinclair estimates he'll get four games in the pre-Christmas programme, which has yet to be released.
Sinclair rates himself a vastly different batsman from the player who tore off three big hundreds against three different opponents in 15 months. He's got rid of the looser shots, tightened his technique.
Even so, it's not going to be easy to break into the test lineup. First dibs are likely to go to Vincent, captain Stephen Fleming, Fulton, Scott Styris and Jacob Oram.
Then there's young whiz Taylor, Craig McMillan, openers Jamie How _ he's got a contract despite an ordinary last year so presumably is in the frame _ and Michael Papps, back from injury and with a record-smashing season behind him for Canterbury.
"I'm not guaranteed anything and I don't want that. I want to work bloody hard for it ... so people can say they've got to pick Mathew Sinclair.
"I need to force them, through consistency of runs and form, to pick me."
SINCLAIR FILE
Tests: 27
Runs 1448
Average: 35.31
3 100s, 4 50s
ODIs: 45
Runs: 1180
Average: 28.09
2 100s, 7 50s
