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Jesse Ryder's biggest battle
A look at the latest setback to hit the turbulent career of New Zealand's wild child, and where it will end
February 26, 2008
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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.
| That Ryder has talent is unquestionable. What is less certain is how much time NZC will be prepared to invest in him | |||
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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Executive editor Martin Williamson joined the Wisden website in its planning stages in 2001 after failing to make his millions in the internet boom when managing editor of Sportal. Before that he was in charge of Sky Sports Online and helped launch and run Sky News Online. With a preference for all things old (except his wife and children), he has recently confounded colleagues by displaying an uncharacteristic fondness for Twenty20 cricket. His enthusiasm for the game is sadly not matched by his ability, but he remains convinced that he might be a late developer and perseveres in the hope of an England call-up with his middle-order batting and non-spinning offbreaks. He is now managing editor of ESPN EMEA Digital Group as well as his Cricinfo responsibilities.
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Ryder is an adult and should learn to behave like one, but I fear that if he has not learned how to do so already it is too late. Give him the boot and let a more worthy player have a chance.
Posted by Santhoshi on (February 27 2008, 18:42 PM GMT)NZ cricket should take up the initiative to look after Jesse Ryder.All-rounders like him don't come around everyday, especially not in New Zealand.And with players being either lost of to retirement(Fleming,Astle)ot the ICL, which is turning out to be a real headche for all cricket boards around(Mcmillan,and specially Bond),I think they should stand up and take responsibility to make sure Ryder gets all help he needs and sticks around for a couple more years.
Posted by captainjamieuk on (February 27 2008, 16:32 PM GMT)There's a difference between being a character and lacking in care for the job that you do. There's a definite lack of pride in representing your country here. NZC have a problem in that they, like the rest of the world's governing bodies, have capitualted to the BCCI's insistence that anyone playing for the ICL gets discounted from national contracts, while the IPL poaches the other good players. With such a small pool, NZC was always going to be in a mess. NZC could have acted earlier to help Ryder (his no-show for Ireland being an example) but perhaps this humiliation will serve to educate the young man. Now more so than ever, the eyes of the cricketing world are on him.
Posted by King_Viv on (February 27 2008, 10:45 AM GMT)I remember Freddie Flintoff was once a chubbie lad who loved his beers and a good curry. He used to produce the odd flash of brilliance but suffered from inconsistent form. After he took fitness seriously he became the best all rounder in the world for 2-3 years before he got injured. Hopefully he will re-discover that form again. If Ryder takes fitness seriously and cuts out the binge drinking, he could become a superb player. The choice is his, he is young enough
Posted by Gareth_Griffis on (February 27 2008, 10:19 AM GMT)I agree with Buzza10. New Zealand cricket (and sport in general) needs someone with personality and Jesse Ryder definitely has that. I like Jesse, he should stay as he is. If he hurts himself or especially someone else then that is something else - his brutal assault on a door leaves us only hoping that the family of the door can forgive and move on with their lives. Basically he should stay how he is, but pull back just enough that he doesn't injure himself so he can't play anymore, or hurt anyone else. If he can keep under that level I couldn't care less how drunken, fat or obnoxious he is - so long as he keeps playing like he did against England.
Posted by Bagha_Bangalee on (February 26 2008, 21:35 PM GMT)Re: 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. In disagree. Go back a jsut a little and remember on hugely talented Fred Flintoff and the drunken nonsense he was involved in. One wishes Ryder all the best as he's a young man who needs to be told that drinking and playing the game don't go together. Unfortunately the nonsense starts with the champagne bottle popping on the field itself, irrespective of which team has won, and that itself is a reprehensible as it can get. With millions of kids below drinking age watching on TV such bottle popping is unwanted. It sends the wrong message. As for Ryder, still young, still too talented to allow it to go to waste.
Posted by Tamilpower on (February 26 2008, 21:19 PM GMT)Ryder has talent and NZ need him to score runs and put bums on seats! Its seems that any mercurial player or personality is harangued and then hanged by the so called self appointed gate keepers of righteousness namely the media commentators including the author of this article. Ryder is an example of a player who is criticised and then belittled in front of the world with references to his poor upbringing. The English team is well behaved but you don't want to watch them. They are lifeless, ordinary and good examples of a talentless bunch of individuals coached into playing. They are not natural at what they do. They are the privileged few lucky enough to attend good schools and have the money 2 buy their way into county squads at an early age and thus manufactured to play as MCC wants it. So when they see real talent the prunes who cannot fathom anything out of their tiny boxes go crazy and create these sensationalist headlines. Real talent doesn't conform for anyone or thing!
Posted by Nipun on (February 26 2008, 17:39 PM GMT)Jesse Ryder should be left as he is.Poking him would only result in changing his mindset & thus his game.Such a character only adds more variety & a different but attractive character in the game.I have always felt that natural talents should be left to flourish in their own manner.....
Posted by Ralph_McTell on (February 26 2008, 14:21 PM GMT)I'm sorry, but I think it's poor journalism to play the arbiter: "You worry that what happened on Sunday morning is another sign that this leopard may not change his spots." "One fears that if he was going to change it would have happened by now." The comments so far are equally judgemental. How about trying to find out exactly why he keeps getting into these problems? The media, with its obsession with his weight, can take some of the blame, as can the public whose opinion the media reflects - after the ridiculous claims that he was too fat to play international cricket, and the consequent enormous pressure he was under to perform, is it any surprise he went a little off the rails? One of the charms of cricket is that anybody of any size can succeed - let's hope international cricketers keep emerging who prove that.
Posted by buzza10 on (February 26 2008, 13:12 PM GMT)I am the only one in the world who thinks that having the odd player in world cricket who is a bit of a maverick is a good thing. I'm sick to death of the same old soundbites and media trained clones rolling out the same old phrases after every game. Something a bit different is actually more interesting to the cricket fan. Ryder plays like he does because he is the person he is - if you change him, he'll probably become less effective. A cricket team is made up of all sorts of types and NZ are certainly better off with him than without.