In-form Ryder ‘right’ to stay on outer
HE MAY wield the hottest bat in domestic cricket, but don’t expect Jesse Ryder to pull on the pads against England next month, according to John Buchanan.
Ryder has been in scintillating form for Wellington in both Twenty20 and four-day cricket this summer, scoring 380 T20 runs at 63.33 and 558 at 69.75 in the Plunket Shield.
Ryder, 28, has made himself unavailable for the Black Caps since playing South Africa in a one-day international in Napier last February.
Director of cricket Buchanan, who saw Ryder make 162 and 19 for Wellington against Central Districts last month, has been in close contact with Wellington coach Jamie Siddons, high performance coach Robbie Kerr and Ryder’s manager Aaron Klee.
‘‘I wouldn’t say that Jesse is ready for venturing into the international arena just yet – that would be my view from a distance watching two innings in one game,’’ the former Australian coach told the Sunday StarTimes.
‘‘That’s not necessarily always the best impression, but having talked pretty closely to those around him, I’m not sure he’s ready as yet. That’s irrespective of the numbers he’s punching out in domestic cricket.’’
Buchanan, who was particularly impressed by Ryder’s Twenty20 form, questioned whether the ‘‘fire’’ to represent New Zealand was burning yet.
‘‘Hopefully each day as he plays for Wellington, that begins to rekindle a bit,’’ he said.
‘‘For him, it’s so important that he’s ready to play for New Zealand, and comes into an environment within the Black Caps that is ready to accept him back in as a player, irrespective of name, history, etc.’’
Meanwhile, sacked Black Caps captain Ross Taylor looks set for a return to domestic cricket within the next week.
Taylor’s Central Districts team play Twenty20 games in New Plymouth against Auckland on Wednesday and Otago next Sunday.
Central coach Alan Hunt had yet to hear from Taylor which game he would be back for, although it is understood his return is imminent.
Hunt said he was confident Taylor would be pulling on the whites again when Central Districts restart their Plunket Shield campaign against Canterbury at McLean Park in Napier on January 24.
Buchanan, who last spoke to Taylor before Christmas, said Taylor should return to cricket only when he felt ready.