Cricket: Sinclair under the blow-torch

Mathew Sinclair

You get the feeling that Mathew Sinclair could do with a visit from the world's most convincing hypnotist.

The New Zealand batsman - who answers to the moniker Skippy - has been turned into roadkill on almost every occasion he's faced the Australian juggernaut, and the script was no different at Wellington's Cake Tin on Saturday night.

Dismissed for a duck as New Zealand lost the opening match of the one-day series by 10 runs, Sinclair arrived in Christchurch yesterday with the support of his coach ringing in his ears, but with a dreadful record against Australia hanging over his head.

Saturday's setback was Sinclair's third duck against Australia in seven outings, during which time he's amassed just 102 runs at an average of 14.57 - with a highest score of 48 at Melbourne before Christmas.

Famous for scoring a double-century on debut against the West Indies in 1999-2000, Sinclair started his ODI career against Australia with two ducks, and apart from the scratchy and pedestrian 48 at Docklands, has not passed 20.

The damage caused by the rut can only be imagined, but coach John Bracewell gave a hint of the main concern yesterday when he spoke of the need to show support, and to bolster the right-hander's sense of self-belief.

"We've got to judge the situation and work with him," Bracewell said.

"We know his talent. I think Mathew's probably as worried about [his record against Australia] as anyone, but we want to clear that from his mind; he doesn't need that burden.

"I watched Mathew batting in domestic cricket and thought he was outstanding, and we need to have that degree of self-belief back at international level."

Sinclair's position is starting to come under pressure because his main rivals, Scott Styris and Craig McMillan, underlined their value to the team in different ways at the weekend, Styris impressing with the ball and McMillan with the bat.

That means if Bracewell wants to play Jeff Wilson in tomorrow night's second ODI at Jade Stadium, he'll either have to drop Sinclair or a front-line bowler such as Kyle Mills or Daryl Tuffey.

Bracewell reduced his squad to 12 yesterday, releasing Andre Adams so that he could get some more cricket under his belt with Auckland, in the belief that he will probably be required later in the campaign.

"We want to make sure that we get Andre through the season and he needs some cricket fitness," Bracewell said. "He's just come off an illness, and he's been with us to get the rhythm of the team, just as James Franklin was with us in Wellington.

"We want to keep guys up to speed with the squad, because we know that there'll be some degree of attrition through the summer."

Bracewell said his team had paid dearly at the weekend for making mistakes against the best side in the world, but that lessons had been learned and points taken.

While he was disappointed at the "heart-breaking" loss, he said he was pleased with 90 per cent of his side's performance, particularly the death-bowling and the largely unrewarded 10-over spell from Daniel Vettori.

"I thought Dan bowled absolutely brilliantly. I thought he was all over them like a rash and it gave all of us a bit of a buzz - me in particular," said Bracewell.

Vettori seemed desperately unlucky not to win an lbw shout against Matthew Hayden, but Bracewell wouldn't be drawn on the issue, citing the ICC Code of Conduct and his lack of financial resources as good reasons for caution.

"You know that I can't answer these questions, I haven't got enough money to do that," he said.

"But what I should say is that Dan bowled outstandingly well."