Cricket: Sinclair on a mission to restore credibility

Somewhere near the top of the Mathew Sinclair Christmas wish-list is a burning desire to prove himself as an international-class batsman.

For so long the enigma of New Zealand cricket, Sinclair will begin his home summer programme today when his Central Districts' side square off against Sri Lanka in a one-day game at New Plymouth.

The match will provide him and fellow Black Cap Jacob Oram with an early look at the tourists, and several team-mates will receive another preview on Thursday, when Sri Lanka play Northern Districts at Hamilton.

Sinclair said yesterday that he had set himself some tangible goals for the season, but the biggest aim was to repair his international credibility and win over the cricketing public.

"I'd like to get another test double century, and I'd like to get my stats back on track," he said.

"But the biggest goal is to prove to New Zealanders that I can get out there and play in the big-time and contribute consistently.

"I want to replicate at the highest level what I've been doing in first-class cricket."

On the outer for most of this year, Sinclair eventually won a recall for the tours to Bangladesh and Australia, and managed to gain a foothold as a caretaker opener-cum-No 3.

However, for someone who had previously reached the heights of two test double-centuries and a 150 at Port Elizabeth, the temporary fall from grace proved a costly one - particularly in terms of commercial credibility.

The upshot is that, with a four-month hiatus in New Zealand's playing schedule approaching next year, Sinclair has been unable to attract any interest from the lucrative England county circuit.

"I was trying to attract some county offers but they weren't interested in me, which was a bit disappointing," he said.

"It probably didn't help that I wasn't on the recent tour of England, but I don't want to dwell on that.

"I'd like to play on the county circuit, it's something most professional cricketers would want to experience."

But far from being disillusioned by the lack of English interest, Sinclair said he still had the chance to perform strongly this summer against Sri Lanka and Australia, and to raise his commercial profile.

"I realise that it's up to me; that I have the opportunity to make people sit up and pay attention."

The 29-year-old right-hander said he was looking forward to having another look at the Sri Lankans, whom he regarded as a top-notch ODI side, and one with an uncharacteristically strong pace combination.

Sri Lanka's pace battery includes left-arm swing bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa, as well as the well-regarded Dihara Fernando, and 20-year-old right-armer Farveez Maharoof.

"It'll be useful to see how their bowlers are going and to watch their batsmen in New Zealand conditions," said Sinclair.

"Jake and I will gather some information on them and take that up to Auckland and present it to the team.

"We want to know as much as possible about what they do and how they go about it."

But he said Sri Lanka's strength lay just as much in their pace bowling as in their traditionally powerful slow bowling.

"They use the new ball as a weapon, as a real attacking advantage, and it looks like that will be a key part of the game for them.

"They've also got plenty of slow and spin bowling options, so I don't think they'll live or die on it.

"But they're certainly using the new ball with a lot more purpose these days."