Cricket: Ryder swears off alcohol

Jesse Ryder has agreed to give up alcohol following his latest lapse in Wellington last week. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder has promised to give up alcohol for good after his latest brush with his demon drink.

Ryder was believed to have quit alcohol after he cut his hand smashing a toilet window in Christchurch during a drinking binge following a match against England last year.

But that proved to be not the case when last week Ryder missed a team meeting in Auckland and was subsequently unable to train following a drinking session in Wellington.

He was dropped from the fourth one-day international against the West Indies last Saturday but returned for the final match on Tuesday.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan and Ryder's manager Aaron Klee said yesterday that Ryder had agreed to go cold turkey following his latest lapse.

"The clock has been reset, he's on the road again and let's hope he and we can keep him good," Klee told The Dominion Post.

Vaughan told the paper Ryder had now "recommitted" to his New Zealand teammates and every support would be offered to him.

New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief executive Heath Mills said Ryder had been fined for his misconduct last week. He would not disclose the amount.

Ryder returns to playing action on Saturday when Wellington play Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve.

He is certain to make the New Zealand one-day squad to tour Australia next month.

- NZPA