Using Jesse Ryder as specialist batsman isn’t far away, says Taylor

The 27-year-old picked up an injury while bowling in a warm-up game against Zimbabwe A at the weekend.

Bulawayo: New Zealand captain Ross Taylor has admitted that injured all-rounder Jesse Ryder’s days at the bowling crease in international cricket could be numbered.

Ryder will miss the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo from November 1, after sustaining a right calf strain. The 27-year-old picked up the injury while bowling in the warm-up game against Zimbabwe A at the weekend. Taylor says that Ryder must scale back his bowling in an attempt to curb his run of injuries. “As captain I want Jesse to be bowling, but I would rather see him bat and score a lot of runs,” Taylor said in an interview. Ryder will return to New Zealand for assessment and a period of rehabilitation. ANI