'Cricketer turned realtor' Sinclair says buying a house is like 'walking out on Test debut'

Former New Zealand Test cricketer Mathew Sinclair, in a brief break from study during his first day as a real estate agent, has said that buying a house is like walking out on Test debut.

Sinclair, who retired from first class cricket last year, became a sales assistant at a hunting and fishing shop in Napier after a short spell without work. He was made redundant from that job three weeks ago but within days has been offered a job by Harcourts at Taradale.

Famously known as 'Skippy', Sinclair played first class cricket for Central Districts since 1995. He scored 214 on Test debut for New Zealand against the West Indies in 1999, and 204 not out against Pakistan the next summer, Stuff.co.nz reported.

After his first day in the estate agent's office, Sinclair said that he had been wondering what to do next after being made redundant last month. He said that he had thought about going back to cricket coaching, but the reality of it is it's only a summer job, and there's no real coaching pathway in New Zealand as such.

Sinclair said that there is a little bit of insecurity about the job that scares him a little bit, and added that it is very much feast or famine. He said that he is very much a people person and hopefully his profile would help.

The former cricketer said that for most people buying a home is like walking out on debut, adding that one does not know what they are getting.

Sinclair said that he wants to give the job his all, and added that he is very much a rookie at this stage and learning skills outside the game. But, he said that he looks forward to going out to the market.