WELLINGTON: Troubled New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder, once touted as the Black Caps’ likely World Cup match-winner, is once again in hot water.

The talented but polarising 30-year-old has been suspended from the final round of New Zealand’s domestic competition after admitting a charge of serious dissent while playing for Otago against Northern Districts last weekend.

Media reports said Ryder unleashed a torrent of abuse after being caught behind and it was believed there was damage to a changing room following his tirade.

“Ryder did not dispute a charge of serious dissent, including the use of offensive language,” New Zealand cricket said in a statement following a disciplinary hearing on Thursday.

“He was subsequently suspended, subject to appeal, from playing in the 10th round of the Plunket Shield.”

Ryder, often a match-winner for New Zealand on the field has had numerous off-field issues involving alcohol.

He has not played for the Black Caps since February last year when he went on a late-night drinking session in Auckland before the start of a Test series against India.

When New Zealand’s batting stocks looked to be in trouble four months out from the World Cup, Ryder was handed a lifeline when selectors included him in the New Zealand ‘A’ squad to tour the United Arab Emirates.

Shane Warne said then, “that if New Zealand were to win the World Cup Jesse Ryder has to be part of it, for sure.”

Ryder was in scintillating form at the time while regular ODI opener Martin Guptill was struggling and Brendon McCullum was batting down the order.

But although Ryder said he was keen to regain his place in the national side he pulled out of the ‘A’ squad citing personal reasons just days after going AWOL and missing a domestic Twenty20 match.

He was then counted out of the reckoning for the New Zealand side which has gone on to make the final of the World Cup.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2015

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