Jesse Ryder's biggest battle

February 26, 2008

	Jesse Ryder: does not conform to the stereotype of the media-trained, finely-honed, over-coached player © Getty Images

Jesse Ryder's no-nonsense batting against England, backed by some surprisingly useful bowling and enthusiastic fielding, raised hopes that perhaps he had finally come of age and that he was finally learning to control his inner demons.

Sadly, reality hit in the early hours of Sunday morning, when he was involved in an altercation in a Christchurch bar which ended in lurid headlines, a gashed hand, and a three-month layoff from the game. It subsequently emerged that he was also out drinking the night before the series decider.

Ryder is a rarity in the modern game, someone who does not conform to the stereotypical media-trained, finely-honed, over-coached player. His batting is based almost entirely on a superb eye for the ball and immense power, the kind who when he fails will be lambasted for his technique, but when he pulls it off empties bars and puts bums on seats.

Before he let his bat do the talking, the initial media comments concerned his weight - he is at least a dozen kilos off being merely solid - but those soon became secondary as his natural ability and surprising athleticism in the field became apparent.

His troubled upbringing had also been well documented. But that can only account for so much. His fondness for a tipple and seeming ability to wind up authority appear uncontrollable and you worry that what happened on Sunday morning is another sign that this leopard may not change his spots.

Stories of his lack of self-discipline are nothing new. Last year, miffed at what he believed was his being unfairly overlooked by selectors, he refused to appear at a World Cup training camp and then declined to appear for New Zealand A. Instead he headed for the UK and a 1000 Euros-a-game contract with Ireland. That relationship ended in tears when he failed to arrive for a match at The Oval following a missed flight - a situation compounded by his complete failure to apologise. One senior Ireland source made it clear that he would not be welcome back any time soon.

Ryder continued to be a celebrity in New Zealand, although there were still a few raised eyebrows when he was included for the series against England. "I think he's made tremendous progress over the last 12 months particularly," said Sir Richard Hadlee, the chairman of selectors. "There have been issues, but we do see him as an exciting talent. He's trained harder, lost a bit of weight, and his attitude to training and his general work ethic has improved. As far as we're concerned as selectors, we're looking at his cricketing ability and any other issues are handled by management."

Hadlee's gamble appeared to have been vindicated as Ryder turned out to be one of the stars of the series, bludgeoning 196 runs at 49 in the five games. Just as importantly, at a time when New Zealand cricket's old guard were moving on, he was an instant hit with the public.

But less than 12 hours after the series was clinched, Ryder found himself in hot water. At 5.30am he became involved in an altercation with a door in a Christchurch bar, which ended with him undergoing surgery on a serious cut to his right index finger. No sooner had New Zealand Cricket's media men been woken from their Sunday-morning slumbers to issue a no-nonsense release about the incident than they had to send out a second statement after it emerged Ryder had been "rude and demanding" with hospital staff.

There was a depressing sense of the inevitable about it all. He seems to give off an air of self destruction. Given his history, he might have been well advised to have gone home after the match. What's more, NZC would have done well to have made sure he did just that. Both are now worse off because he did not.

The real loser here is Ryder himself. Aside from a very sore hand, he will be out of action for at least three months and so will miss the home series against England - the word was that he was unlikely to have been included anyhow - and the return tour to England which follows.

That Ryder has talent is unquestionable. What is less certain is how much time NZC will be prepared to invest in him - although the heartening initial signs are that it is prepared do assist in whatever way it can - and how many times the selectors will put their necks on the line. His marketability, both at home and overseas, diminishes with every lurid headline. As importantly, will Ryder do what he has to. There have been previous offers of help which have been rebuffed.

One has to hope that he spends his enforced absence reflecting on what he could achieve and knuckles down. But one fears that if he was going to change, it would have happened by now.

Martin Williamson is executive editor of Cricinfo

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