If ever the weight of two double-centuries scored so early in an international career - two in the first 12 Tests - has become a yoke, then that is the case for Mathew Sinclair. He scored 214 on his debut, against West Indies at Wellington in 1999, and followed that with 204 not out against Pakistan in the following summer. But despite this most promising of starts, Sinclair has struggled to gain a permanent place in both the Test and one-day sides after disappoiting scores. He was recalled for the third Test against South Africa at Wellington in March 2004, but an impressive 74 in the first innings wasn't enough to originally get him picked on the tour of England in 2004. However, after Craig McMillan broke his finger in a tour match against Leicestershire, Sinclair, who was playing league cricket in East Anglia at the time, was called up to the international Test squad as cover. And, similarly, although not picked for the Bangladesh tour, after Michael Papps dislocated his shoulder, Sinclair was drafted in and duly struck 76 in the first Test.
Lynn McConnell October 2004
|
