Jesse Ryder will join Central Districts for the 2015-2016 domestic summer in New Zealand, and the Stags say they won’t be keeping the controversial cricketer on any sort of leash. Ryder has been a colourful figure in New Zealand cricket without doubt. The young batsmen has clear world-class talent and amazing hitting power, but it has always been the off-field problems that have kept him in the spotlight.
He has made some silly mistakes off the field during his time in cricket, and eventually it led to the youngster developing a big resentment to the media, whom he says don’t report on all the facts. That negative media spotlight played a large part in taking away his chances of representing the Blackcaps at the World Cup.
Ryder is an anti-hero in the eyes of the cricket loving public in New Zealand. While he was injured and wouldn’t have performed at his best for that World Cup, it wasn’t the only reason why the Blackcaps hierarchy decided they just couldn’t take such a risk on his being a part of the side. The Blackcaps decided to go with sending Brendon McCullum back to the opening role, and it paid off immediately.
The Blackcaps showed that they didn’t need Ryder in the squad during that tournament, and to many, he would have been a side distraction and worry that just wasn’t going to jell with the team environment. Ryder himself never commented about his missing the World Cup and stayed relatively under the spotlight of the media during the summer.
Ryder has become something of a freelance cricketer who applies his trade in all forms of the game, for various different sides around the world, and his career is set to be limited to domestic cricket from now on. During the English summer, he plays for Essex and like last year, he has been in terrific form with both bat and ball in all forms of the game.
Unbeknown to many, Ryder actually made his domestic cricket debut for the Stags back in the 2002-2003 season. The deal between Ryder and the Stags took less than a week to negotiate. He wanted to leave Otago, he didn’t feel happy in the team environment, and it showed during his last few Plunket Shield games before he departed to England.
It is unknown as to whether he will be based in Napier or Wellington during the summer while he plays for the Stags, and he is expected to join the side once limited over competitions begin.
Many will believe that extreme caution needs to be taken with Ryder during his time with the Stags. Some will be unimpressed with the Stags coach saying they are not going to keep him on a tight leash during his tenure in the mid-north. However, if he is just going to show up for the one-day cricket and bash the ball to all parts, then no caution needs to be taken in regards to what he does off the field. If it begins affecting the image of the association, then that is another conversation, but that isn’t something anyone needs to worry about.
Ryder has done a good job of behaving a little better off the field in the last couple of years. The incident with the Otago Volts last year where he was seen drinking at a sponsor golf event was reported on highly by New Zealand media, and then just a few days later it was revealed that he had suffered a significant back injury and had contacted New Zealand cricket to say he wouldn’t be available for the World Cup, which at that point was just weeks away. He was also dealing with a personal issue at that moment in time.
Ryder’s form cannot be questioned. Lets just leave it at that. Central Districts have signed a cricketer who has the potential to make them a real contender in the New Zealand domestic seen in both Twenty20 and ODI cricket this summer.
Brace yourself Napier, Ryder is en-route.
