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Page last updated at 08:31 GMT, Friday, 9 January 2009

Ryder regrets drinking incident

Jesse Ryder
Ryder is an aggressive opening batsman in one-day cricket

New Zealand all-rounder Jesse Ryder has been fined and dropped after missing a training session and team meeting following a late night of drinking.

Ryder had been out in Wellington after his side's victory over the West Indies in the third one-day international.

"I'm totally committed to overcoming this problem and understand I will have to work even harder," he said.

The 24-year-old has a history of drink-related incidents, and a chequered disciplinary record.

Ryder missed the 2008 tour of England after punching a window in a Christchurch nightclub while drunk and severing tendons in his hand, an injury which required surgery.

He received counselling from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) last year, but now admits he needs more help in dealing with alcohol.

"I am only now starting to appreciate the size of the challenge that I face," said Ryder, who will miss Saturday's fourth game of the one-day series.

We have witnessed encouraging signs from Jesse both on and off the park

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan
"I thought I'd reached the point where I could control my drinking better, but it's obviously not the case."

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said he was concerned by Ryder's behaviour, but conceded it was not as serious as last year's incident in Christchurch.

"Since February last year, we have witnessed encouraging signs from Jesse both on and off the park," said Vaughan.

"These vast improvements meant Jesse was recently given more latitude in his personal decision making.

"In hindsight, this was premature. However, while it is a drinking-related issue, it does not compare with last February in its severity."

Ryder's disciplinary record includes him refusing to play for New Zealand A in 2007 and failing to turn up for a World Cup training camp last year.



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see also
New Zealand pick uncapped Guptill
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NZ crush Windies to level series
07 Jan 09 |  Cricket
Sarwan guides Windies to victory
03 Jan 09 |  Cricket
NZ-Windies one-dayer washed out
31 Dec 08 |  Cricket
New Zealand pair set up easy win
28 Dec 08 |  Cricket
Injured Ryder misses one-dayers
29 May 08 |  New Zealand
Ryder out of NZ Test contention
24 Feb 08 |  New Zealand
New Zealand recall Ryder for tour
12 Sep 08 |  New Zealand
Ireland set to axe absent Ryder
27 May 07 |  Counties
Kiwi Ryder signs up with Ireland
09 May 07 |  Counties


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