CAPE TOWN, March 5: South Africa batsman Daryll Cullinan has walked out of the team just 24 hours after expressing delight at his recall, the national governing body said Tuesday.

Cullinan was selected to face Australia in the second Test in Cape Town, starting Friday, but has now withdrawn, unhappy at not being offered a contract, according to the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA).

Cullinan described his recall on Monday — his 35th birthday — as a “lovely bonus”.

But he has already been replaced in the team by 20-year-old Western Province left-hander Graeme Smith as South Africa look to end a run of four Test defeats to Australian in less than three months.

“Daryll had conditions for his participation in the Test,” UCBSA chief executive Gerald Majola said. “He insisted on an ‘A’ contract until the World Cup next year and we simply could not agree to that.

“There are procedures for contracts. Two Test matches or six One-day Internationals automatically earns a contract.

“All the national selectors can recommend a player for a contract. I asked them about Daryll and they said they wanted to see him play first.

“All our contracted players have their annual review next month anyway so we couldn’t give Daryll a year’s contract.”—Reuters