Cricket: Ryder expected to follow rules

esse Ryder is likely to be opening for NZ A against the associate countries. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Selectors give talented left-hander opportunity to prove himself with UAE trip

Having been handed an opportunity, the ball is now squarely in Jesse Ryder's court.

The left-hand batsman, who divides public opinion like no one else in the New Zealand game, will head to Dubai on November 19 for the New Zealand A leg of the trip to the United Arab Emirates. Once there he needs to perform on the park, and not perform off it.

General manager national selection Bruce Edgar said yesterday that there had been numerous discussions involving Ryder, New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, coach Mike Hesson and himself and " his commitment level clearly came through from those discussions".

He's expected to abide by the same guidelines as the rest of the squad. There's no slack being cut.

"The expectations from players are the same - that training and preparation is highly professional.

"This is how you're expected to play. Everything we do is reflected back on the team.

"Whatever actions you're taking on and off the field, is it for the team?" Edgar added.

Speaking yesterday Ryder said: "I'll do what I need to do to show I'm still keen to be part of it.

"It's been a bit of a circus in the last few weeks.

"I know there's a lot of eyes on me, but that's part and parcel of it I guess."

Ryder, recalled after being sidelined since early this year over late night drinking, is likely to be opening in the UAE against the associate countries who are heading for the World Cup - Ireland, Afghanistan and the UAE.

The trip will likely reunite Ryder with Martin Guptill at the top of the order, although Northern Districts' versatile Anton Devcich is also expected to get his chance.

If Ryder can produce impressive form, and behave himself, he's likely to be in the preliminary group of 30 to be named early in December.

From that will come the final 15 for the World Cup, plus back up players in case of injuries.

So Ryder will be in the same boat as the rest of the A group.

The squad of 13 will be augmented by probably two players who are not required for the second and third tests against Pakistan in Dubai and Sharjah late in November.

There will be some conundrums out of that mix.

Broadly speaking, the NZ A players will have first dibs on those selection - for example, if Doug Bracewell was one of those two players, he would clearly sit behind the likes of Mitchell McClenaghan and Kyle Mills in the ODI pecking order. If ODI specialist keeper Luke Ronchi is not required in the test side, he'll come across to the A squad, but might not necessarily keep, with Otago's Derek de Boorder getting another chance and, as Edgar put it, clearly the third best gloveman in the country.

There is a desire to avoid players having to sit on the bench too often in the UAE, so there will be some juggling.

Edgar liked what he and Hesson saw of experienced Dan Vettori on his international return.

There were no wickets in his two games against South Africa at Mt Maunganui, but piles of guile.

"His change of pace, and the speed at which he delivers the ball, holding it up. He's a clever bowler."