WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Aggressive top-order batsman Jesse Ryder was passionate about rekindling his international career after he was thrown a World Cup lifeline by being named in a New Zealand ‘A’ team for one-day matches in the United Arab Emirates next month.
The 30-year-old Ryder has been kept out of the national side after he broke team protocols by drinking the night before a test against India in February, the latest in a long line of off-field disciplinary issues for the burly left hander.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said last week Ryder needed to show form on the field and a willingness to play by the team’s rules off it before being considered for the top team again, something Ryder said he was willing to do.
“The passion’s still there to make the team,” Ryder told reporters in Hamilton on Friday. “If I didn’t I wouldn’t be in the ‘A’ team so it’s definitely something I want.
“It’s just a stepping stone isn’t it? Hopefully it’s a good one for me.
“I’ll go over there and just do what I need to do to show that I’m still keen to be a part of it.
“It’s just about slowly getting back involved and stuff like that – and obviously this is the first stepping stone towards it.” Ryder, who had a successful limited overs county season in England earlier this year, said his fitness was not up to the standard he had hoped but that was something else he would work on before the team leaves for Dubai.
While Ryder’s selection had indicated he was still in contention for coach Mike Hesson’s World Cup squad, New Zealand chairman of selectors Bruce Edgar reiterated what McCullum had said earlier.
“I’d remind people that, at this point, Jesse has been selected for NZ ‘A’, nothing more; nothing less,” Edgar said in a statement.
“It’s an important step for Jesse but it is only a first step and we’re anxious not to get ahead of ourselves.
“Like everyone else in the squad, his future prospects will depend on his performance, on and off the field, in Dubai.”
FRINGE PLAYERS
Ryder’s inclusion in the squad, however, indicated Hesson is concerned at the make-up of his top order ahead of the World Cup with regular opener Martin Guptill struggling against the pace of South Africa’s bowlers in a one-day series last week.
