Ryder’s NZ hopes look stumped by no-show
JESSE Ryder could be back playing for Otago this week but the New Zealand cricket selectors have all but scratched him from their list of World Cup contenders.
Ryder yesterday met with his employer, Otago Cricket chief executive Ross Dykes, and informed him he was unavailable for the New Zealand A tour of Dubai which departs tomorrow.
Dykes said Ryder was dealing with a ‘‘personal issue’’, which is understood to be his relationship, after he was a no-show for Otago’s flight to Christchurch on Saturday and missed their Twenty20 match the following day.
National selector Bruce Edgar was New Zealand Cricket’s spokesman on the matter yesterday and said Ryder’s withdrawal made it tough to name him in their World Cup squad of 30 by the December 8 deadline.
‘‘We go back to what Brendon [McCullum] said about how important it was to have guys who were fiercely determined to be in the team and totally committed. The A tour was a stepping stone to that,’’ Edgar said.
‘‘We’ll monitor domestic cricket because that’s all we’re going to see from here and we’ll have to make a judgment on less information than we were expecting.’’
In other words, Ryder had his one chance and he blew it.
It is difficult to see coach Mike Hesson and captain McCullum be- Has ‘‘personal issue’’.
‘We don’t have any restrictions . . . we’re dealing with grown men.’
Otago Cricket chief executive Ross Dykes ing keen to cut Ryder any more slack, after it was made clear he had a few hoops to jump through in the wake of an incident in February when he was dropped after going out drinking on test eve in Auckland.
Edgar said Ryder was still a chance to play for the Volts against Canterbury in Dunedin on Thursday, and against Northern Districts in Wellington on Sunday in the Twenty20 competition.
Dykes and Edgar both said they understood Ryder’s reasons for missing last Sunday’s game and there was also a desire for him to get back on the field as soon as he was ready.
It is understood Ryder was drinking during and after Otago’s golf day on Friday, and was a noshow at Dunedin Airport for the team flight.
He informed team management he was having relationship issues and the team made it clear they still wanted him in Christchurch.
Ryder was rebooked on a Sunday morning flight to Christchurch, then changed his mind again, saying he did not feel up to it.
Dykes confirmed that Ryder was not under any alcohol ban in his Otago contract. ‘‘We don’t have any restrictions . . . we’re dealing with grown men,’’ Dykes said.
Still, Dykes was committed to getting more off-field support around their troubled but matchwinning batsman.
Similarly, Edgar said Ryder was not under any off-field restrictions with New Zealand A under coach Bob Carter for their four one-day games in Dubai which was effectively a trial run.
Edgar was taken aback by the weekend’s developments after everything indicated Ryder was keen to get back in the Black Caps’ fold.
‘‘I am [surprised] because a couple of weeks ago there was a high level of commitment and desire to get there.
‘‘That’s changed and I certainly respect that. It’s a personal decision he’s made and I certainly feel for him.’’ For full coverage of day one of the second test, go to stuff.co.nz