Jesse Ryder has returned to the New Zealand frame after being named in a 13-man New Zealand A squad, which will play four 50-over matches in Dubai in November, on Friday (October 31). The squad also included senior pros Daniel Vettori and Martin Guptill.
New Zealand A take on United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Ireland (twice) between November 23 and December 1.
Ryder has been out of favour with the selectors due to several disciplinary issues. However, he has expressed his keenness to do what he needed to do to return to the national team, and Ryder reiterated that when he spoke to reporters in Hamilton after his selection. “The passion’s still there to make the team,” he said. “If I didn’t I wouldn’t be in the A team, so it’s definitely something I want. It’s just a stepping stone, isn’t it? Hopefully it’s a good one for me.
“I’ll go over there and just do what I need to do to show that I’m still keen to be a part of it. It’s just about slowly getting back involved and stuff like that – and obviously this is the first stepping stone towards it.”
While a return to the A team is certainly a step in the right direction for Ryder, Bruce Edgar, the chairman of selectors, made it clear that Ryder’s future would solely depend on his performances in the upcoming tour.
“I’d remind people that, at this point, Jesse has been selected for NZ A, nothing more; nothing less,” said Edgar. “It’s an important step for Jesse but it is only a first step and we’re anxious not to get ahead of ourselves. Like everyone else in the squad, his future prospects will depend on his performance, on and off the field, in Dubai.”
Edgar also indicated that the selectors have one eye on the World Cup next year and the performances in the upcoming tour would give them a better picture as far as selection for that is concerned. “The squad for CWC 2015 is named on 8 January, so we want to ensure every player in contention is given a chance on the international stage. We need to know we’ve left no questions unanswered,” he explained.
Also named in the squad was Derek de Boorder, the only member with no previous One-Day International experience. Explaining the inclusion, Edgar acknowledged the progress made by the wicketkeeper-batsman in domestic tournaments. “Derek’s been making good progress as a specialist gloveman with the SBS Bank Otago Volts, and his inclusion in this squad is recognition of that,” said Edgar.
The third and final Test of the Pakistan v New Zealand series will be played in Sharjah from November 26, to be followed by a series of three Twenty20 Internationals and five One-Day Internationals. It was understood that the players who are left out of the playing XI for that final Test would join the A team.
New Zealand A squad: Kyle Mills (c), Dean Brownlie, Derek de Boorder, Colin de Grandhomme, Anton Devcich, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Jesse Ryder, Daniel Vettori.
Ryder named in New Zealand A squad
