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Jesse Ryder's cricket bosses are "hurt" and "disappointed" after an early-morning incident that has put the cricket sensation out for three months with a badly gashed right hand.
The Black Caps batsman spent last night in Christchurch Hospital after surgery to repair the hand slashed when he broke
a window to get into a toilet at the Stock X Change Bar and Cafe in Christchurch about 5.30am yesterday. The bar's owner said Ryder, 23, walked to Christchurch Hospital afterwards.
He needed a reconstruction to the exterior tendon on his index finger, a flap reconstruction and skin graft.
The hard-hitting batsman has a chequered history, including alcohol-related incidents in his late teens and disciplinary problems that had some coaches wondering if he would ever fulfil his immense talent.
Last night, Cricket Wellington chief executive Gavin Larsen said: "I'm sad, I'm hurt and very disappointed in Jesse.
"I was pretty devastated when I heard the news."
Mr Larsen said Ryder's provincial team, the Firebirds, had been through a Leading Teams course, which involved team-building exercises.
"We were aware of his background. We'd worked well with Jesse, and were extremely confident that we had been making good progress with him."
Firebirds coach Anthony Stuart said the incident was upsetting.
"I feel sorry for him. When I heard, my first thought was for him. How was he going in surgery? How was he recovering?
"He's done something silly, he's put himself in a situation where he's got hurt. At the end of the day he's the only person you can blame. He's an adult, he's got to understand that he's got to take responsibility for his actions."
New Zealand Cricket said it would not punish Ryder, and police were not involved in the incident,
"It's very disappointing," Black Caps team manager Lindsay Crocker told the Herald last night.
"He's shown exemplary behaviour. We knew a bit about his alleged history and he was inducted with the protocols and culture we have within the team."
Mr Crocker said players had been out in a group for several hours after securing a 3-1 one-day series victory over England on Saturday night at Christchurch's AMI Stadium.
Ryder went off with a friend as players dispersed about 4am.
Mr Crocker understands Ryder had had several drinks but was not intoxicated at the time of the incident.
"This behaviour is unacceptable. We will have a serious discussion with him to ensure situations like this do not occur again."
Mr Crocker said Ryder was "pretty low-key" when he saw him at the hospital.
Anthony Bailey, owner of the Stock X Change, said the incident was an accident. "It wasn't vandalism ... He was just wanting to go to the toilet, I presume."
Mr Bailey said Ryder had been on the gaming machines with friends. None had caused trouble.
Ryder was reaching through a panel of glass louvres beside an external door leading to two toilets, trying to undo a latch, when he fell, he said.
Only hours before the incident, Black Caps vice-captain Brendon McCullum said: "Jesse has been fantastic the way he's come into the side."
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY NZPA