New Zealand's Ryder puts cricket on hold for personal issues

Wellington: New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder is taking an indefinite break from cricket to resolve personal issues after a “deeply stressful and emotional time” in the national team. Ryder was due to play a first-class match with Wellington on Friday but his manager, Aaron Klee, said he had withdrawn to concentrate on his wellbeing. The hard-hitting top-order batsman missed last month’s third one-day international against South Africa, along with fast bowler Doug Bracewell, for breaching New Zealand team protocols by drinking alcohol while injured. [caption id=“attachment_238535” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Jesse Ryder is out for 52 to South Africa in their third Twenty20 cricket match at Eden Park in Auckland. AP”]  [/caption] He was left out of the New Zealand team for the first test against the Proteas, currently being played in Dunedin, as he continues his recover from a calf injury. Ryder’s career has been dogged by issues of alcohol and fitness, and Klee said recent public scrutiny of his behavior had taken its toll. In the latest case, he became involved in a verbal altercation with bar patrons while drinking with Bracewell after the second ODI against South Africa in Napier. New Zealand team management said Ryder was not drunk and his behavior didn’t breach its code of conduct. But drinking while injured was a transgression, forcing Ryder and Bracewell to be stood down for the ODI at Auckland. New Zealand coach John Wright said later he is losing patience with Ryder. In 2008, Ryder injured his hand when he punched a window in a hotel toilet and later abused hospital staff who were treating him. Klee said Ryder needed time to deal with personal issues. “We are not dealing with this from a professional perspective as a cricketer, this is all about Jesse as a person,” he said. “That is my total focus as his manager and as his friend.” Klee said Ryder may have been recalled to the New Zealand team too soon when he played the second Twenty20 international against South Africa on Feb. 22. He had been out of the team since December, dealing with injuries and fitness issues. He top-scored with 52 in that match, however he was criticized for taking eight balls to score the one run he needed to bring up his half-century. The run-chase faltered and New Zealand lost the match. “Maybe it was too rushed,” Klee said. “There were some pretty stressful times for him.” Cricket Wellington said it had agreed to a request from Ryder’s manager to give the player indefinite leave. “It’s no secret that Jesse’s had a rough past fortnight, and the advice from professionals associated with his care is that he’s just not in the right frame of mind for first-class cricket,” chief executive Peter Clinton said. “We’re very aware of the pressures that Jesse is under, and we support him taking a break if that’s what’s required to help him through this. We’ll assist his return to the park when he’s ready to go, and not rush him beforehand.” AP