Jesse Ryder - Struggles But Good Batting Form (2008-2009)

Struggles But Good Batting Form (2008-2009)

After Ryder's injured hand healed, he was recalled to the New Zealand 15-man squad touring Bangladesh 2008/09. He made his Test debut against Bangladesh at Chittagong, he scored one and 38. In the rain-affected second Test he made 91 and 39*.

On 7 January 2009, Ryder indulged in a "late night drinking session" after the 3rd ODI against the West Indies. Ryder missed a team meeting the following morning and was unable to train in the afternoon. He was subsequently dropped for the 4th ODI.

As Ryder had established a good record (Test Average: 49.33, ODI Average: 34.33) in his first season, New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan was ready to help Ryder with his drinking problem.

"We see him as being a really important part of New Zealand cricket for many years so we want to help him", Vaughan said. "We don't want to cast him out and say 'when you're fixed come back'. We want to be part of the solution if we can."

Ryder played in the 5th ODI on 13 January 2009, and scored 21. Two days later, Justin Vaughan and Ryder's manager Aaron Klee announced that Ryder had agreed to go cold turkey.

Ryder managed to get through the Indian tour without any further indiscretions. He was NZ's best batsman in the five ODI's, scoring 225 runs at an average of 56.25. He scored his first ODI century for NZ in the third match and was the man of the match in the fifth match for his all round performance, 3-29 and 63. His century (105) off 72 balls, was the third fastest ODI century for NZ. Ryder and McCullum enhanced their reputations as an opening partnership sharing two stands of over 100 in 4 innings, 166 in the third match and 102 in the 4th match.

He also found success in the Tests, narrowly out-scoring Ross Taylor. Ryder made his maiden test century (102) in the first Test at Hamilton, where he shared a partnership of 186 with Vettori (118), in the first innings.

In the second Test match at Napier, Ryder scored his maiden double century, (201) and put on 271 with Ross Taylor (151). This was a new record fourth wicket partnership against all countries and fourth highest test partnership ever for New Zealand. Jesse Ryder became the first New Zealander since Nathan Astle to score two centuries in two consecutive Test matches. At the end of the test series Ryder's average was 55.07 from nine matches. Only Stewie Dempster had a higher average at the same stage of his career for NZ.

On 6 February 2009, just before the Indian series kicked off, Ryder's services were bought by the Bangalore Royal Challengers for $US160,000 ($NZ318,280). However, he struggled during the season, scoring a total of 56 runs, and was only chosen to play in 5 out of 16 of his team's games. Ryder also "fell off the wagon after 100 hard-fought days of sobriety" according to the NZ Herald.

Ryder's contribution to the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 tournament was limited. He scored 31 off 12 balls against Scotland but then picked up a "particularly nasty groin infection", played no further part in the competition and was replaced in the squad by Aaron Redmond.