Claims of cricketers' taxi incident investigated

A screengrab shows Jesse Ryder, centre, during a night out at Britomart last month. Photo / 3News

New Zealand Cricket is investigating claims players Doug Bracewell and Jesse Ryder were part of an altercation involving a taxi after a late-night drinking session before the first test against India.

Bracewell turned up hours after the drinking session on Thursday with a broken bone in one foot - but NZC is also trying to determine if Bracewell has an injured hand, and when that injury occurred.

Sources said it was unclear how serious the taxi dispute was, but New Zealand Cricket is expected to reveal more details about the incident today.

The cricketers infuriated their bosses when they admitted being at the Carpark Bar in central Auckland last Wednesday.

On Friday team manager Mike Sandle called the behaviour "totally unacceptable" but yesterday NZC would not comment while its investigation was in progress.

A video emerged last night of Ryder in a separate incident on January 25 near the 1885 bar at Britomart - hours before he was named in the test team.

The video, shown on 3 News, showed Ryder staggering drunkenly and having to be helped into a taxi.

The Herald approached NZ Cricket on January 29 about that incident but spokesman Callum Elder said team manager Mike Sandle had "no concerns" from that night.

But at the weekend NZC confirmed its knowledge of the incident telling the Herald on Sunday: "The 1885 evening was dealt with by management at the time."

Ryder scored a century for Otago at the weekend against Central Districts and team-mate Ian Butler defended him yesterday.

"Things like what happened the other night just get blown out of proportion.

"He is used to that and it certainly isn't affecting his cricket," he said.