Cricket: Sinclair stakes his claim to retain test place

1.00pm - By CHRIS BARCLAY

BRISBANE - New Zealand opener Mathew Sinclair hopes his fluctuating test cricket career is on another upswing after a potentially career-defining innings at the Gabba yesterday.

"It's great to be back in the Black Caps environment and performing well," Sinclair said after contributing 69 to New Zealand's diffident 250 for seven at the close of day one.

Sinclair, who was been called up to New Zealand's last two tours to England and Bangladesh only as injury cover, opened against a major test playing nation for the first time and was naturally happy to stay on the frontline.

"It's a great opportunity for me to get back into whatever role there is there for me," said Sinclair, who effectively owes his spot to Michael Papps' shoulder injury.

"I'm taking whatever position that's been given to me in all fairness... I can't see much difference between batting three or opening."

Missing selection on the mid-year tour of England still grates with the 29-year-old, who hopes this tour will raise his stocks on both sides of the Tasman.

He is the undoubted batting standout so far on tour preceding yesterday's knock with a double of 79 and 88 in the nine-wicket loss to New South Wales last week.

Sinclair chided himself for not converting a chanceless knock into three figures but it was still a massive improvement on his previous best against Australia -- 29 at Perth three years ago in what was his 11th innings against the world champions.

Sinclair's 162-ball knock was one of few highlights on a day New Zealand squandered their chance to put Australia under pressure on a good batting strip.

New Zealand will be hoping Sinclair's 69 is erased as the innings' top score with Jacob Oram unbeaten on 63 and Daniel Vettori -- who also has a test hundred -- on 13 when play resumes today (1pmNZT).

Reeling at 138 for five, New Zealand fought hard in the session to stumps adding 108 for the loss of Craig McMillan (23) and Brendon McCullum (10).

Ideally, the Black Caps will push on past 300 -- and take their time doing it -- if they are to give an understrength bowling attack anything substantial to defend.

New Zealand looked capable of posting a reasonable total when consolidating at 138 for three but within an over, Nathan Astle (19) and Sinclair had departed -- the second instance where New Zealand lost wickets in quick succession.

Mark Richardson and Stephen Fleming fell at 26, meaning four New Zealand wickets fell in less than 10 balls -- a statistic that doesn't cast a positive light on the tourists' chances of batting to save the game.

Michael Kasprowicz was the pick of the Australian attack, rocking New Zealand with an early double strike then returning to nick out Scott Styris for 27.

Ominously, the Queenslander described the surface as "excellent" for batting, an assessment that may not give an inexperienced New Zealand bowling attack much to look forward to.

- NZPA