Cricket: Ryder back in the starting blocks

Jesse Ryder coming right today in Auckland will put CD in a good batting frame for the grand final on Saturday. PHOTO/FILE

It's a dead rubber no matter how you look at it so the question is how do you keep it afloat?

No sweat at all, if you ask Central Districts Stags coach Heinrich Malan whose gallant troops have marched straight into the McDonald's Super Smash T20 grand final in New Plymouth on Saturday.

"It's obviously round 10 which is as important as round one. Whether white-ball cricket or first-class one, you can't take anything for granted," Malan said last night, adding it was no different when it came to CD's preparations for games.

The William Young-captained Stags play the Auckland Aces at Eden park outer oval today from 4.10pm in a televised match, weather permitting.

Here's something to chew on - unwanted T20 international Ross Taylor is out and former Black Caps Jesse Ryder is back in the starting blocks to start a T20 season that looks ominously like the last one.

"Roscoe has a precautionary measure around stiffness. He obviously hasn't played for months so we're just making sure we look after him day by day and, hopefully, we'll keep an eye on the grand final," he said.

Ryder, 32, after just one appearance to date this season, is a straight swap for Tom Bruce who is on the cusp of making his T20 international debut today.

So what are the expectations of Ryder?

"All we've ever asked Jesse to do is enjoy his stuff and we're really looking forward to that X factor he brings.

"There's not too many people in this country who can do what he does," he said, adding Ryder had a solid training day yesterday and was middling the ball nicely.

With red-ball spin wizard Ajaz Patel staying on with the group after the last round from Pukekura Park, CD will have a squad of 13 to pick from today.

While they "threw a dart" against the Aces at Pukekura Parek, New Plymouth, in their only other macth in the T20 this season, CD came away with a victory but Malan said it was back to zero today.

"When it comes to twenty20, it's all about who rocks up on the day to shoiwcase their skills the best," he said, stressing pretty much most of the six teams on the table were in contention.

Sri Lanka import Mahela Jayawardene has been cleared after pulling up with a stiff neck in the round nine at Puke Park against the Canterbury Kings.

"He woke up from a stiff neck with a pillow that was too high so nothing too bad about it," said Malan of the competition's top run scorer who must have enjoyed Taylor coming into the fray to share the load in the top order.