Cricket: Butler and Sinclair on outer

Mathew Sinclair is "getting a bit sick of it now. Words can't describe it." Picture / Brett Phibbs

New Zealand Cricket's reluctance to extend their list of players beyond 20 cost Ian Butler, Mathew Sinclair and Gareth Hopkins any chance of a contract for the new season.

But that does not mean they have been cast adrift, and will almost certainly play for New Zealand in the next 12 months.

In confirming the names of the players who have been offered 2005-2006 contracts, Black Caps team manager and NZC spokesman Lindsay Crocker said: "In an ideal world it would have been good to go to 23, but that flexibility was not there."

In the only changes from the last list of contracted players, Butler and Sinclair have been replaced by James Marshall and Craig Cumming.

Brendon McCullum is again the only wicketkeeper. Hopkins is regarded as his back-up.

The list was drawn up by out-going selection panel John Bracewell, Sir Richard Hadlee, Ross Dykes and Brian McKechnie.

Dykes and McKechnie have since resigned. The new panel is likely to be announced at next week's board meeting.

"We have 38 players who remain under New Zealand Cricket's wing," Crocker said. "They have access to coaching, fitness, medical and technical support, and will obviously be considered for various teams when the need arises.

"In the past year we used 33 players."

The contracts are drawn up in order of merit.

Unlike previous years when contracts were given out in five groups of four, with all players in that band receiving the same amount, only those ranked from 17 to 20 receive the same remuneration ($45,000).

The remaining players are paid from $125,000 (at the top) to $45,000, with $5000 drop-offs.

The order has not been made public, but it would appear Stephen Fleming and Daniel Vettori as captain and vice-captain would be at the top of the rankings.

The players selected to play tests and one-dayers also receive $6000 a test and $2500 for ODIs.

The players missing New Zealand contracts can expect to be the highest-paid by their local associations and receive $25,000 for the seven months from October 1 to April 30.

If called in for international duty, they receive the same match payments as the contracted players.

Butler said yesterday that he was determined to prove the selectors wrong.

"I'm very disappointed," he said. "I was involved with the side for nine months out of the last 12 until I was injured, so I got the idea I was in their plans.

"I still want to play for New Zealand. I would be shooting off to England if that wasn't the aim.

"This is just a little hiccup on the way and it's up to me to prove them wrong."

Sinclair, 29, has two test double-centuries to his name and a first-class average of 49.

He lost out because of the rise of James Marshall and Lou Vincent in the Sri Lanka series, and because he wasn't seen as an opener.

That was despite putting his hand up for the troublesome spot last November and scoring a gutsy 69 in the first test at Brisbane, before being axed midway through the home one-day series against Australia in February.

"Words can't describe it at the moment. It's like being fired from a job," Sinclair said.

He admitted thoughts of a life outside cricket or seeking a contract in South Africa had crossed his mind, but the rejection also steeled his resolve to come back stronger for Central Districts in December.

"I still have definite ambitions to get back and play for New Zealand, but whether I make myself available, it's making me think a bit.

"When I have been on form and I haven't been picked, that's been the hardest thing to take.

"It's like whenever something's not quite right I'm the one to be ditched.

"I'm getting a bit sick of it now."

Sinclair and Butler receive their final payment this month, then do not get another until their provincial contracts begin in October.

Shane Bond, Vettori, Chris Harris, Michael Papps and Jacob Oram finished last season under an injury cloud, but Crocker expects all will be available for selection in the team to tour Zimbabwe in August.

"We hope to name that team on June 20. We are looking to take 14 for the one-dayers and maybe 15 for the tests. We expect all will come from the 20 on the contracted list."

A NZ A team are due to play in Sri Lanka in September. Some non-contracted players will make that trip and earn match fees.

Six of the contracted players - Scott Styris, Fleming, Hamish Marshall, Vincent and Paul Wiseman - are playing in England and will, if selected, join the team in Zimbabwe.

The 20

Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, Craig Cumming, Stephen Fleming, James Franklin, Chris Harris, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Michael Papps, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Lou Vincent, Daniel Vettori, Paul Wiseman.

- additional reporting NZPA