Ryder named in New Zealand’s preliminary squad for T20 World Cup

NAPIER - New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder, who has had an operation to try to repair his long-term abdominal injury, has been included in the Black Caps’ preliminary squad of 30 for the World Twenty20 championship.

The tournament starts on April 30 in West Indies and New Zealand’s squad will be trimmed to 15 by the end of this month.

Lat month, Ryder had a setback in his fight to regain full fitness from the injury, a tear of the rectus abdominis, he suffered during the Champions Trophy in South Africa last September.

It had not responded to his rehabilitation programme and a surgery was needed, which aimed at providing support to the lower part of his abdominal wall.

Meanwhile, the list also features injured all-rounder Jacob Oram and fast bowlers Kyle Mills, Ian Butler and Andy McKay.

“We have some very competitive players to compete at the World Cup. We feel that we have some depth and good skill level available for selection,” The New Zealand Herald quoted Mark Greatbatch, New Zealand selector and coach, as saying.

“It will be nice to get some of our core players back fit. It is an important month for them to get themselves ready and up to speed,” he added.

Five new comers have also been included in the list - Brent Arnel, Bradley Scott, Cantabrians Rob Nicol, Shannan Stewart and Kieran Noema-Barnett after they excelled in the domestic competition this summer.

New Zealand Squad:

Daniel Vettori, Brent Arnel, Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Brendon Diamanti, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan, Andy McKay, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, Bradley Scott, Mathew Sinclair, Tim Southee, Shanan Stewart, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor and Daryl Tuffey. (ANI)