Cricket: Double recall for Ryder

Jesse Ryder. Photo / Getty Images

A day after the Black Caps were put to the sword by a stocky South African opener, New Zealand's own match-winning top order bat returned to the national scene.

Jesse Ryder, missing from the New Zealand set-up since the test defeat of Australia last December, was one of three new but familiar faces named in the Black Caps' squad for the three-match ODI series against the Proteas, starting in Wellington on Saturday.

James Franklin was rewarded with inclusion after some impressive performances against South Africa in the T20s, while Wellington teammate Andy McKay bolsters the bowling attack. From the ODI squad that thrashed Zimbabwe 3-0 earlier in the month, Dean Brownlie and Jacob Oram miss out through injury, with 19-year-old Tom Latham relegated to domestic cricket after a taste of the international environment.

But it is Ryder's return which will elicit the most excitement among cricket fans. The mercurial batsman flourished for Wellington since overcoming a calf injury suffered in an HRV Cup game in December and, unsurprisingly, was rushed back into the national side.

Ryder was also called up to the Twenty20 team for the deciding match at Eden Park on Wednesday, replacing Andrew Ellis who returned to Christchurch for the anniversary of the Canterbury earthquake, and national selection manager Kim Littlejohn said Ryder had shown he was ready.

"We're pleased with the progress Jesse has made since returning from injury, and with Andrew [Ellis] not available for the final match we felt it was a good opportunity to bring him back into the mix.''

That progress included scoring 96 from 67 balls in his first match back for his province, a one-day win over Otago on February 1, as well as some rapid-fire knocks in the white clothing. Ryder hit five sixes and eight fours in notching 74 from 50 balls in the first innings of Wellington's win against Canterbury, before helping his side across the line today with 82 from 63 balls in the second innings, including another four sixes and 10 fours.

It certainly seemed as if Ryder was pleading for a call-up to the Black Caps' limited overs teams, and that plea was evidently heard. The 27-year-old joins a top order already boasting Martin Guptill, Rob Nicol and Brendon McCullum, though the absence of Oram, who batted at No 3 in the ODIs against Zimbabwe, opens a slot in that format.

Oram, who aggravated his left calf in the last ODI win over Zimbabwe, has been experiencing discomfort in the muscle and was due to meet with a doctor today. Brownlie fractured a finger while fielding in the first ODI of the Zimbabwe series, while Latham can count himself unlucky.

"We decided to leave Tom out of the side,'' Littlejohn said. "We are pleased with his first stint at international level but, in terms of his overall development, felt it was best for him to return to domestic cricket. He remains in our thinking for the future.''

McCullum will continue to lead the side in place of Ross Taylor, who hopes to overcome the torn calf he suffered in the one-off test against Zimbabwe last month in time for next month's South African test series.

New Zealand squad to play South Africa in three-match one-day international series:

Brendon McCullum (c), Michael Bates, Doug Bracewell, Andrew Ellis, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Nathan McCullum, Andrew McKay, Kyle Mills, Tarun Nethula, Rob Nicol, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson