Jesse Ryder has signed a deal with the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming Big Bash Twenty20 league.
It will be his first stint in the Ausstralian league after previous appearances in the Indian Premier League for the Pune Warriors and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The Renegades finished sixth last seasonand includes Australian internationals Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade and Peter Siddle.
Ryder is currently playing in England for county side Essex where he took a career-best 5-50 against Leicestershire on Tuesday.
With the door looking closed on an international recall, Ryder will be free to play the entire Big Bash season, starting December 19, for the Renegades
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson told the Herald last week that the gifted lefthand batsman is not part of his selection options.
While Doug Bracewell, Ryder's partner in late-night shenanigans last season, won a recall to the New Zealand A side for the just-completed tour to Britain, there's no sign of similar treatment for Ryder.
"We've made clear our expectations and he's well aware of them," New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said told the Herald last week.
Of the pair, banished from the national squad after an early-morning drinking session hours before the start of the first test against India in Auckland last February, Hesson said: "One player has run with it and made significant changes. The other less so."
