Cricket: Heave-ho for hero of test triumph

By RICHARD BOOCK

Second-test hero Mathew Sinclair might have the keys to the country - but he still can't break into the New Zealand one-day cricket team.

The man-of-the-moment after making 214 on debut in Wellington, Sinclair has been left out of the squad to play the West Indies in the five-match one-day series, the first of which is at Eden Park on Sunday.

The selectors opted instead to show their faith in the incumbents, with the return of Dion Nash and Craig McMillan for Alex Tait and Chris Drum the only changes to the side who played India in the fifth one-dayer last month.

Roger Twose, who recently injured a knee, has been named subject to a fitness test, while one-day specialists Chris Harris and Scott Styris rejoin the side after being not required during the test series.

Of the side who beat the West Indies by an innings and 105 runs this week, Sinclair, Paul Wiseman and Gary Stead have been deemed surplus to requirements.

Sinclair, who had to farewell his team-mates in the capital yesterday as they left for Auckland, will now attempt to further his one-day claims in the Shell Cup, and will have his first chance on Monday when Central Districts play Canterbury in Nelson.

"There is that disappointment I'm not carrying on with them," he said yesterday. "It feels a bit strange, but there's something in front of me, to put together the performances. I don't want to be used as just a test player."

Sinclair was informed of his non-selection by national selection convener Ross Dykes as the team were celebrating their victory on Wednesday night.

He was named man of the match for his innings, the seventh-highest in tests by a New Zealand batsman.

Dykes said Sinclair had yet to prove himself in one-day cricket and that the settled nature of the one-day side was a strength in itself.

"The selectors believe Mathew's strength at this stage is in the longer version of the game," he said. "And it's there that he's performed consistently well.

"The one-day game is a different discipline and Mathew has yet to prove himself in that format. The side also have a proven track record in ODIs - particularly in the past 12 months - and we believe there's an excellent balance of experience and skill."

Sinclair said he understood why he was overlooked but wants to demonstrate in the Shell Cup that he should be included for the one-dayers against Australia starting in February.

"I realise they wanted to stick with the original one-day team. I've been told to go away and work on my one-day performances and that's what I plan to do."

The team was a predictable one with injury-troubled pace bowlers Dion Nash and Chris Cairns both cleared to play.

Left-arm swing bowler Shayne O'Connor earned his place after an impressive effort in the second test and due to Geoff Allott's unavailability with a back injury.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Craig Spearman, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Roger Twose, Adam Parore, Chris Harris, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori, Scott Styris, Shayne O'Connor.