September 13, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 12, 1429

WELLINGTON, Sept 12: Big-hitting Jesse Ryder has been recalled to the New Zealand squad for next month’s tour of Bangladesh, seven months after the cricketer with the “wild child” image injured a hand in a bar incident.

Ryder, 24, was included in the 17-member squad for the two Test and three one-day series. “I’m stoked (delighted) to be given another chance,” he said.

“It’s been a long time coming. It was up to them (the selectors) to give me another chance and I’m just happy they did.”

Selector Dion Nash said Ryder had showed good recent form. “Jesse performed well on the emerging players tour in Australia in July,” Nash stated.

Ryder made an impressive start to One-day International cricket, averaging 49 at a rapid strike rate of 91.

But his career came to a sudden halt in February when he injured himself in a bar when he broke a window while trying to get into a locked toilet during celebrations following New Zealand’s home one-day series win over England.

He needed surgery to his damaged right hand and a period of rehabilitation meant he missed the tour of England.Ryder said the incident had changed his attitude “pretty much big time”.

“I’ve got a good support network around me now and we go through one day at a time in getting it all sorted,” he expressed. Test new-ball bowler Chris Martin has been recalled to the one-day squad for the Bangladesh tour, while fellow seamer Iain O’Brien and opening batsman Aaron Redmond will join the tour party for the two Tests.

Squad:

Daniel Vettori (captain), Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor. Aaron Redmond (Tests only), Iain O’Brien (Tests only), Scott Styris (ODIs only), Mark Gillespie (ODIs only).

Tour itinerary:

Oct 7: One-day warm-up match (venue, opposition TBC)

Oct 9: 1st ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.

Oct 11: 2nd ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.

Oct 14: 3rd ODI, Bir Shrestha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium, Chittagong.

Oct 17: 1st Test, Bir Shrestha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium, Chittagong.

Oct 25: 2nd Test, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.—AFP