COLLEGE SPORT: Ryder back at school

THE photojournalists were allowed to go about their business yesterday at Napier Boys' High School and the TV cameras were rolling as Black Cap Jesse Ryder did his public relations thing at his old school.
New Zealand Cricket spin doctor John Durning told SportToday ``no questions' because it was just a photo opportunity. ``We're keeping Jesse under wraps.'
However, a phone call to NBHS headmaster Ross Brown yesterday revealed that TV journalists were allowed to ask Ryder questions during the net session in the grounds.
``He [Jesse] indicated that he was set to play tomorrow [today] and that his foot was not a problem any more,' Brown said. The Caps play England in the fourth ODI of the five-match series today at McLean Park, Napier, which started at 11am, and Ryder is a drawcard in a match expected to lure a capacity crowd of 9000.
Some schools in Hawke's Bay have granted their pupils a day off to attend the limited 50-over international although some have requested the children make up for the loss of study time with another day later in the year.
Ryder, 23, touched on the flatness of the McLean Park pitch. After rolling his arm over in the nets yesterday morning to boarder Hamish Lewis, of Waipukurau, Ryder also displayed his batting prowess.
``It was a classic Jesse like he used to be when he was at school. He could hold a conversation and still bat, drop-kicking them out over the heads [of the bowlers] to demonstrate his hitting prowess,' said Brown, adding the New Zealand cricketer was visiting the school for the first time since he last attended classes there in 2002.
The school's current first XI captain, Ihaia West, escorted Ryder around the school. Later Ryder reminisced with staff members and spent some time with teacher and former first XI coach Kevin Martindale, browsing through the school's magazines, The Scindian, recalling teammates from the first XI side.
``Some of the names that cropped up were Sam Jenkins, Nick Phelps, Kurt Richards, Andrew Martindale, Torben Freer, Ollie Dapson, Simon Danks, captain Scott Simpson and vice-captain Robbie Schaw.
``Jesse was pleased to be at the school again but he was short on words and longer on action, as he always was,' Brown said.
In the 2002 school magazine, a visionary Martindale is quoted as saying: ``Although only playing 10 matches for us during the course of the season, a simple examination of statistics reveals the enormous talent that Jesse carries. He scored 570 runs at an average of 63. These included two centuries and four half centuries. As a bowler he took 29 wickets at an average of seven. Jesse is a player who we will almost certainly see at the highest levels in the not-too-distant future.'
NTOB players and fans are likely to be at the ground today to cheer on their hero. Tech stalwart Craig Findlay was at the school yesterday to watch Ryder.