Injured Jesse Ryder out of contention for Bangladesh, Australia series

AUCKLAND - Injured New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder is taking longer to recuperate than first thought, easing him out of contention for the forthcoming tours by Bangladesh and Australia.

Ryder has had a setback in his fight to regain full fitness from an adductor strain suffered during the Champions Trophy in South Africa last September.

The 25-year-old’s only time at the crease since then has been in game for a Wellington team against England under-19 on January 7. He had a recurrence of the injury during sprint training, but it is more of a delay to his comeback than a case of being back at square one.

New Zealand team physiotherapist Kate Stalker said that she has met Ryder, with other NZC medical staff, and confirmed his return to the national side is on hold while he recuperates.

“He has some abdominal pain again. He hasn’t re-injured it to the same extent he had in the past, but he’s certainly tweaked it,” The New Zealand Herald quoted Stalker, as saying.

Stalker further said that she looking forward to having a fully fit and firing Ryder for the World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 13 months’ time.

No amount of game time has been specified for Ryder to complete before his return, but Stalker is optimistic that he can be ready in time for the Twenty20 world championship in West Indies. (ANI)