Cricket: Crowe urges selectors to focus Ryder on test cricket only

Martin Crowe. Photo / Paul Estcourt

New Zealand cricket finally has a middle order to be proud of, but Martin Crowe wants to see Jesse Ryder focus on only one form of the game to combat his fitness issues.

Ryder has battled to keep fit during his 16-test career since his debut in 2008. In only 29 innings, the 27-year-old has smashed three centuries and six 50s and boasts an impressive average at a touch under 45.

With rookie Kane Williamson at first drop, captain Ross Taylor at No 4 and Ryder at five, New Zealand have a formidable line-up, but Ryder was again ruled out of New Zealand's most recent test against Zimbabwe when he suffered a calf injury.

Crowe, who scored 5444 runs during an illustrious test career, said the Kiwi selectors needed to make some tough calls with how they manage Ryder in the future to ensure he is on the park as often as possible.

"Unless they decide to rule him out of playing the short form of the game and just focus on test cricket we won't see Jesse play consistently at five and therefore you're always going to have this rotating door at five," Crowe said.

"So the selectors have got to get pretty clever here. Jesse's not getting any fitter, so they've got to make a decision on his behalf as to what form of the game he's going to focus on."

Northern Districts batsman BJ Watling filled in at No 5 during the one-off test with Zimbabwe, which New Zealand won by 34 runs, but he did not set the world on fire and Crowe speculated he was only taken on tour as a back-up wicketkeeper to Brendon McCullum and Reece Young.

"I think Daniel Flynn is a far better No 5 in the country as a back-up behind Jesse," Crowe said.

Otago's Neil Broom also scored plenty of runs in the Plunket Shield last summer and has never been given a chance at test level despite averaging 42.89 in domestic four-day cricket, with 10 centuries.

New Zealand travel to Australia this month for a four-day tour match against Australia before two tests in December against their transtasman rivals.

Crowe said the acid would go on the batsmen to turn their starts into big scores to ensure New Zealand had totals they could bowl at with their limited pace attack of Tim Southee, Chris Martin and Doug Bracewell.

They return from Zimbabwe this week and will play the second round of the domestic four-day competition for their provinces.