He could be the poster-boy for the inconsistencies that plague the Black Caps but former New Zealand cricket captain Jamie How says he's still got a contribution to make on the international stage.
The Central Stags captain was the big loser when New Zealand cricket's 20 centrally-contracted players were selected in June, but yesterday vowed to fight his way back into contention.
How, 28, has been in Tauranga all weekend playing for home province Manawatu in a 50-over doubleheader against Bay of Plenty.
Despite his side dominating both games, How didn't rediscover his touch at Tauranga Domain, out for 13 on Sunday before a six-ball duck yesterday.
How plummeted from No 6 on the central contracts list last year, which carried a retainer of $144,000 before match payments, to a lowly Central Districts contract a year later, joined by Scott Styris, Peter Fulton and Mark Gillespie.
Contracts are awarded on the basis of how valuable the players were likely to be over the next 12-month period, with players ranked from one to 20 in accordance with the value of their contract.
How said being left out of the 20 still hurt but had given him added motivation to perform when the domestic season starts next month.
"I need a good start in the first class stuff. I'd heard some of the talk leading up to contracts announcement about who was in and who was possibly out but when your name's not there it's still a bit of a surprise."
How isn't complaining about his absence, knowing he hasn't made a compelling case consistently to demand a spot in the Black Caps' top order.
How disappointed in his last three one-day series, scoring 105 runs at an average of 21 in the five-match series in England last year, and 80 at 21.33 in Bangladesh.
In last summer's series against West Indies, he has managed only 27 runs in two matches before being replaced by Martin Guptill. In 19 tests he is averaging 22.70 and has a one-day average of 34.4 from 28 innings.
His selection last summer for the test series against West Indies was widely criticised and it still rankles that How hasn't managed a test century.
"I know I've got work to do to get back in but I'm convinced I can do it.
"I haven't sat down and had a huge heart to heart with the national selectors, or New Zealand Cricket, after being left out [of the central contracts list] but you don't have to be a genius to work out what's a fairly simple equation.
"I guess it goes for all the guys who were overlooked - if you score runs as a batsman you'll get a look; if not then your position's under pressure.
"I haven't worked out any specific problems in my game other than I'm obviously a bit inconsistent and need to remedy that."
How captained New Zealand A on their offseason tour to India and knows there's a vacancy at the top of the Black Caps' batting order in all forms of the game.
"The good thing right now is no one has a mortgage on any of the places. Obviously there's a few guys who have established themselves but it's up to the guys on the fringes to play good cricket to make a decent case."
How agreed it probably isn't a bad time to be on the outer, especially with the spotlight on the New Zealand players' role in coach Andy Moles' exit. "I haven't really been involved to a huge extent in the past 12 months so I'm not privy to what's gone on. From my angle I always found Andy to be a good guy."
Bay of Plenty, following on from their two-wicket loss on Sunday, put up a better fight with the bat yesterday but were still 40-50 runs shy of posting a competitive target.
Ben Williams (59), Richard Rice (44) and Jono Boult (36) lifted Bay to 210-9 from 50 overs but Manawatu cruised to the win five wickets down and with five overs up their sleeve.
Yesterday's scorers:
Bay of Plenty 210-9 (Llorne Howell 17, Jono Boult 36, Ben Williams 59, Riche Rice 44; Cody Andrews 2-22, Michael Mason 2-6) lost to Manawatu 211-5 in 44.2 overs (George Worker 42, Domnic Rayner 77no, Bruce Grant 46no; Jason Trembath 2-36).
Axed Black Cap craves for recall
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