Otago coach warns against Ryder being rushed into playing for New Zealand again

Wellington: New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryders`s domestic coach Vaughn Johnson has said that the player should not be rushed into playing for the national side and a T20 return would be ideal for him.

According to Stuff.co.nz, Ryder hit 117 off 164 balls, including 22 fours, on a docile pitch as visitors Otago notched 534-9 declared against Wellington. Wellington then showed how friendly the surface was as they reached 217-2 at stumps on day two, with Stephen Murdoch (82 not out) poised to become the game`s fourth centurion, the report said. The day began with Ryder on 48 not out and ended it with the question of how soon Black Caps coach Mike Hesson would dial his number for his first international since February last year, the report added. Johnson said that he was quite strong on the point that if Ryder was rushed back in, without having had enough domestic cricket, it could be difficult to see the best of him in international cricket again. He added Ryder had a tough few months as he recovered from the serious assault he suffered in Christchurch in March, before he was suspended for six months for testing positive to a banned substance, according to the report. Johnson further said that Ryder was still suffering headaches as a result of the assault but was training strongly with Otago staff and needed a volume of runs under his belt.