Ryder rejuvenated

PHYSICALLY FIT and mentally refreshed, Jesse Ryder is set for his latest cricketing comeback.

The gifted left- handed batsman’s troubled career went off the rails again in March when he pulled stumps, citing a need to get a complete break from the game.

It seems to have done the trick. He’s quietly worked by himself on losing weight and sorting out his head. And he’s re-immersed himself with the Wellington Firebirds, who are expecting big things of him when the Plunket Shield starts next week.

In fact, the 28-year-old has so impressed Wellington coach Jamie Siddons with his attitude and preseason from that he’s not expecting to see too much of Ryder this summer – for all the right reasons.

‘‘I would imagine he won’t be [with us] for long because he will be with the Black Caps – he’s going fantastic,’’ Siddons said.

‘‘We’ve had some good practice sessions and he has been a part of all that. We’re really happy with the way he’s going.

‘‘I wouldn’t say he’s the skinniest person in the world but he has certainly lost a bit of weight and he’s been putting in all the hard yards that we expected of him.’’ Siddons sensed some real excitement around Ryder.

‘‘I think he’s looking forward to playing cricket. That’s what he does, that’s what he’s great at. He wants to get out there with a bat in his hand and put himself forward for the Black Caps down the track.’’ With the Black Caps’ squads selected for the looming tour of Sri Lanka, Ryder’s realistic hopes of a recall lie with pushing his claims for a spot on the long tour of South Africa. That starts in mid-December and takes in three T20s, three ODIs and three tests. The Black Caps return in late January to host a full tour by England.

Foremost, Ryder needs runs for the Firebirds and that shouldn’t be a problem, given his talent. Having lost his Black Caps contract he also needs to do plenty to convince his bigger bosses of worthiness in terms of attitude. That might take a prolonged spell of discipline.

The early signs are good and he has the perfect environment to do it in, as Plunket Shield and HRV Cup dominate the early domestic landscape.

The players contracted to the provinces provide a mix that proves the worth of the system. Old hands like Tim McIntosh, Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Mathew Sinclair, Graham Aldridge and Neil Broom see enough to keep them sticking around. Some, like the irrepressible Auckland Aces pair of Lou Vincent and Andre Adams, keep coming back for more.

Their experience, knowledge and

Wellington coach competitiveness make it an ideal nursery for the constantly evolving young talent.

Ish Sodhi will be one youngster with plenty of eyes on him as the art of leg-spinning continues its renaissance.

And the Plunket Shield is also a proving ground for the likes of South African Neil Wagner, the Otago Volts left-arm quick, who has earned his New Zealand colours.

The latest import

to be chasing that dream is Wellington wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi. New Zealand isn’t short of talented glovemen, but Ronchi comes with big raps from across the Tasman.

The Kiwi- born keeper has already played for Australia, but his stand-down ends in January so he has everything to play for.

Most of the big-name players being brought in from overseas will be for the T20 scene, though the drawn-out nature of that competition this season – it runs from November 2 until January 30 – means some will only play cameo roles as they mix their work with Australia’s Big Bash.