Cricket: Sinclair may play in South Africa

It looks like the country's leading first class batsman is off to greener cricketing pastures overseas.

Unwanted former Black Cap Mathew Sinclair won the Redpath Cup for first class batting at Thursday night's annual awards dinner in Auckland.

However Sinclair still can not make the cut for the test squad, and is now set to take a lucrative deal to play in South Africa.

Sinclair is not contracted to New Zealand Cricket, but says while he is disappointed at the lack of communication, all he can do is keep on scoring runs.

Sinclair says he has to look after number one, and there continues to be a possibility of him moving on.

Among other disappointments and issues, he says he is sick and tired of people talking about his apparent lack of footwork and supposed personality problems.

Daniel Vettori was named the Cricketer of the Year, while Nathan Astle and Shane Bond were the winners of the one day batting and bowling awards respectively, and Chris Martin won the Windsor Cup as the leading first class bowler.

Vettori says it is very exciting to win two seasons in a row and believes his all round season helped him win the award.

Otago's Jonathan Trott won the State Medal, for most outstanding player in men's domestic cricket.

Louise Milliken and Emily Drumm picked up the women's top awards for bowling and batting respectively.

- NEWSTALK ZB