Jesse Ryder has turned his back on New Zealand cricket for the immediate future. He has made himself unavailable for an NZC contract for the 2012-13 season; Stuff reports:
Jesse Ryder and New Zealand Cricket have had an amicable parting of ways, leaving his international playing future in limbo.
The troubled but gifted New Zealand batsman will cease employment with NZC on August 1 after making himself unavailable for a national contract for 2012-13.
Ryder, 27, was unlikely to be offered one anyway after his recent off-field and fitness issues, but told NZC's director of cricket John Buchanan of his decision at his annual player review in Wellington yesterday as he works towards "a number of health and fitness-related goals".
His manager, Aaron Klee, and NZ Cricket Players Association boss Heath Mills, accompanied Ryder to the review and supported his decision.
NZC chief executive David White, in England on ICC business, was briefed last night.
"All of the evidence shows that Jesse is on the right track, both on and off the field, but we're aware that there are still steps to be made," White said.
"While cricket remains an important part of his life, it is his health and wellbeing that need to be the primary focus. Jesse wants to concentrate on his personal goals without the media pressures, commercial pressures and other demands associated with being a contracted player."
Jesse Ryder remains probably the most naturally-talented player in the current New Zealand cricket scene. When fully fit and in form, he is a superb timer of the ball, he has proved that he can "bat time" as the current vernacular goes, is surprisingly agile in the field and is a more than useful bowler.
His off-field dramas have been well and truly thrashed out, and there's no need to re-hash them. We hope that time away from the pressures of international cricket will see Ryder recover in the widest sense of the word, and again be available to represent his country at some time in the future. At least he should have some money in the bank after the IPL, so he should not be under financial pressure to play when he is not ready.
We wish him well.
Around the traps: Robert Winter from Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow expresses similar sentiments. And over at LiveSport, there's an interview with Jesse Ryder's manager Aaron Klee.
1 comment:
They should pack him off to England to play occasional club cricket with Andrew Flintoff.
Flintoff went through similar weight & professionalism problems as a young player and beat them to become an undeniable great of the game. He could probably teach Ryder a thing or two.
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