Cricket: Rejected Franklin knows he has to stay in form

James Franklin. Photo / APN

Things aren't adding up inside James Franklin's head at the moment.

He's been told he's on the outer after averaging 54 in one-day internationals over the previous 12 months.

He's been told he has no test ranking by one of the people who selected him for the last test New Zealand played, versus Pakistan in Wellington in January.

But most confusing of all is being told he is not considered one of the country's 20 premier cricketers.

That has left him without a New Zealand Cricket contract and leaves the Mumbai Indians as his only gainful employment - though he will likely be named No 1 or close to it when Wellington's contractees are named this month.

"I've been better," Franklin said. "It's just a massive disappointment and hugely frustrating. I'm struggling to get my head around it, to be honest."

Franklin was a surprise omission last year, but forced his way into the squad and won himself an elevated contract after some outstanding form during a one-day series in India.

His omission this year has blindsided him, with Franklin admitting he never saw it coming.

"My stats over the summer stood up okay," Franklin said. "I know I have to keep working hard on improving my bowling and getting it back to where it was a few years ago, but it feels like I have got a lot to offer New Zealand cricket in the coming years."

Franklin was the highest-profile casualty of John Wright's first contracts list since taking over as coach. Before the list was confirmed the Players' Association asked the selectors to justify the non-selection of Franklin, as is their right.

Most galling to Franklin was selector Mark Greatbatch telling him he only picked up a ranking in the short forms, meaning he was adjudged to be outside the country's top 25 test players.

"I find that hard to fathom. I played the last test New Zealand played and haven't played any first-class cricket since then so I'm not sure how I've dropped so far. To not be in the top 25 is just so disappointing," he said.

Franklin met NZC director of cricket John Buchanan, Wright and Greatbatch for an hour last Tuesday. Even then he did not get a sense of what was about to happen a couple of days later.

What he hasn't been able to avoid is suggestions that his body language, which can veer towards the passive, played a part in his exclusion.

"That's just a copout," a frustrated Franklin said. "I'm a tall guy. If my shoulders get a bit rounded as the day wears on it sticks out like a sore thumb. I've heard this sort of talk since my age-group days, but my teammates know how much I want to win and do well."

Describing himself as a "young 30", Franklin sees only one choice now the selectors have made it clear he is not a part of their plans in the next 12 months. He needs to play well for Wellington and the Mumbai Indians in September's Champions League and make himself attractive for other teams around the world, whether it be in Twenty20 leagues or county cricket.

It's a potentially lucrative, potentially tortuous pathway - and it's not the one he would have chosen.