Cricket: Ingram replaces injured Ryder

Peter Ingram in action against Australia in March 2010. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Central Districts opener Peter Ingram ended a roller coaster week on a high today after being included in the New Zealand cricket squad for next month's tri-series in Sri Lanka.

Ingram replaced Jesse Ryder in the 14-man squad after Ryder was ruled out yesterday with an elbow injury.

It represented a remarkable change of forturne for the 31-year-old New Plymouth teacher Ingram, who wasn't included in the list of New Zealand Cricket's 20 contracted players announced on Tuesday.

A hard-hitting and prolific runscorer at domestic level, it appeared his short international career may have ended when he was dropped for the second test against Australia in March, amidst concern at his lack of foot movement against quality attacks.

He made his debut in all forms of international cricket last summer, scoring a total of 61 test runs in a match each against Bangladesh and Australia while he averaged 30.16 in six one-day internationals. He also played three Twenty20 internationals.

He needed to secure time off from his teaching job at Francis Douglas Memorial College before confirming his place in the squad.

The New Zealanders leave for Darwin tomorrow to spend a week preparing for the tri-series involving Sri Lanka starting on August 10 in Dambulla. That will involve three warmup matches against Indian domestic side Maharashtra.

Coach and selector Mark Greatbatch said Ingram was the second choice option behind Otago opener Aaron Redmond, who was unavailable due to his overseas wedding next month.

"We considered a few players but felt that an experienced opener was required so Ingram got the nod," Greatbatch said.

"Ingram played in our last one-day international series against Australia at home and we were looking for top order cover to he was the natural choice."

- NZPA