Paul Lewis: Ryder recall not worth the risk

Photo / Hagen Hopkins

Jesse Ryder might well be named in the Black Caps' 30-man squad in December but maybe it's best he doesn't make the final team for the World Cup.

Here's what it means if he does:

• We are prepared to overlook principle if we have a vacancy, like an opening batsman or batsmen.

&bill; Pragmatism is one thing; surrender to selfish needs another.

• Team management failed on two counts - to manage the obviously difficult Ryder in the first place and to find or manufacture a replacement ODI opener.

If the Black Caps are to win the World Cup, or even perform well, it will be because of their team ethic. The Australians, during their long reign as the world's best team, proved it time and again. In times of stress, someone nearly always fought that bit harder, wresting initiative away from their attackers.

We all know the Black Caps aren't the most talented team. But when they're rolling, they're a tight unit who hang tough - a cohesive bunch whose combined output is greater than individual talents. It's their best weapon and only hope.

So why are we entertaining the notion of having the allegedly disruptive Ryder back in the side?

Apart from Brendon McCullum, there's probably no batsman in the Black Caps with the creativity to hit the ball to spots where fielders are not. But that's not the point. If talk coming from the Black Caps' dressing room is to be believed, Ryder did his chips with them when he performed poorly with the bat against India last season (94 runs in five ODI innings as an opener) and then went out on the lash the night before the first test.

Coach Mike Hesson said recently: "We won't compromise the team and compromise our standards. If Jesse's been able to make those changes like Doug Bracewell has, we'll certainly look to consider him."

McCullum added: "This team only works if we are all on the same page. Even one weak link is enough to derail the whole thing."

Then came that 39-ball century against Ireland and public pressure mounted. How quickly we forget. When Ryder was dumped, he was an object of scorn. A quick ton and a quote from his English county captain saying what a good bloke he was and fickle Kiwi fans want him back in the side.

The question is how Ryder might affect team-mates. Let's say Ryder is re-selected, even though he may not have achieved the fitness-, alcohol- and commitment-related goals that Bracewell has.

You can see Hesson assuring his players that Ryder has done the hard yards on the NZ A tour and is abiding by team protocols. The team would still know Ryder has been ushered in a side door marked 'Convenience' while they arrived through hard work and committing to the New Zealand team ethic.

Sports bodies are terrible at this. Sonny Bill Williams was shoehorned into the Kiwis and Tohu Harris spat out to make room in last year's World Cup. It didn't end well - star power didn't match Aussie power.

In the US, domestic violence by the likes of NFL player Ray Rice is all the rage, pardon the pun. Now it has jumped the gender gap.

US women's football goalkeeper Hope Solo was charged with a domestic violence offence involving her sister and nephew. The court case could interfere with her selection during World Cup qualifying. There's heated debate whether she should remain in the team until her case is heard.

Her understudy, Jillian Loyden, had a sister killed in a 2012 domestic violence incident. Loyden has retired, saying Solo should be stood down.

Loyden's target was domestic violence (her retirement removes any accusations she might be criticising Solo for personal gain) but there are suggestions the US team are closing ranks against Solo after US football authorities allowed her to play on.

We can't equate Ryder's escapades with domestic violence but the same question applies about his presence in the team. Pragmatists will say all will be well if the Black Caps win. Maybe so, and a side with a purposeful Ryder would be the best result.

But it's a gamble and there's another pragmatic answer - put McCullum back at opener and end the painful experiment of the talented Jimmy Neesham there, where he has taken more than one for the team. This could be McCullum's time after his triple century against India. If New Zealand are to shine at the World Cup, he will likely lead the way.

Neesham has huge potential - the timing and smoothness of stroke stamp him as a real find - so to sling him in at opener when he has previously batted no higher than six seems unnecessarily injurious to him and his confidence.

Re-install McCullum for the World Cup, select Neesham ahead of Corey Anderson and shelve the Ryder riddle for now. Respect.