Almost a month after he received serious head injuries during an assault in Christchurch, cricketer Jesse Ryder is back on his feet - and well enough to drive.
Ryder was spotted by a Weekend Herald photographer driving his SUV around Lower Hutt yesterday.
The big-hitting crowd favourite is yet to comment on the March 28 attack, which saw him spend three days in an induced coma at Christchurch Hospital. His manager, Aaron Klee, did not respond to messages left on his phone last night.
Ryder, who has been in self-imposed exile from the Black Caps for 14 months, has been tipped to return to competitive cricket in July in the first Caribbean Premier League 20/20 competition. His injuries forced him to forgo his $300,000 contract in this month's Indian Premier League.
A 37-year-old builder and his nephew, a 20-year-old carpet layer, have been charged with attacking Ryder. The pair, who have name suppression, were remanded on bail when they appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Thursday.
