KEY POINTS:
Mathew Sinclair plans to give cricket in New Zealand a "bloody good crack" after accepting terms from the national body today.
Sinclair effectively agreed to New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) one-year contract offer by announcing he would be playing another season for Central Districts.
He had until today to accept the NZC proposal and told NZPA he would verbally do so, with a signature to follow early next week which will tie him up through to May 31 next year.
The 31 year old will replace Hamish Marshall on the 20-strong list of NZC contracted players after Marshall elected to join his English county Gloucestershire as a local player, ruling him out of international contention.
Three weeks ago Sinclair's response to missing out on a contract was disappointment and he intended to seek a playing berth in England, Australia or South Africa.
"In the end it wasn't a hard decision," Sinclair said today.
"They (NZC) have given me some sort of lifeline, some sort of faith, so now I want to try to return that really.
"It still opens up the possibility of going overseas and playing as well while the Black Caps are away (if not selected)."
Sinclair had sent emails to a number of clubs and counties over the past two weeks but had found the market was tight.
"I let them know that I was a free agent. What came back most of the time was that they had already filled their professional quota.
"So it was a matter of waiting for one of them to get injured.
"Now this has come up. It gives me financial security for a year and I can get out there and give it a bloody good crack."
Sinclair's contract will be at the lower end of the NZC pay scale, reportedly a retainer of $45,000.
The Australian-born right-hander has scored two test double centuries.
Regarded primarily as a test batsman, he has played 27, scoring 1448 runs at an average of 35.31.
His one-day international record reads 1180 runs at 28.09 from 45 matches.
- NZPA
