Jesse Ryder's psychologist Karen Nimmo claims her cricketing client's conduct was "exemplary during trying circumstances" playing for the Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League.
Nimmo attended the tournament for two weeks - as did Ryder's manager Aaron Klee - to provide support for the 27-year-old who has made several well-documented indiscretions involving alcohol since becoming a professional cricketer. He will be left off the New Zealand Cricket contract list due for release in July while he sorts out those difficulties.
Twenty cricketers among the 92 on domestic or international contracts are understood to have sought, or are seeking, psychological support. Nimmo told the New Zealand Herald in March that serious psychological problems in sport are an untapped well which have virtually become a full-time job in the past five years.
Nimmo says the IPL is full of temptation: "It is a party environment but we achieved what we wanted. I'm proud of his [Jesse's] efforts. We had a plan in place and we stuck to it."
Nimmo did not stay with Ryder the entire time, preferring to base herself in Mumbai and the Warriors' home city of Pune. She wanted to work as someone who could advise when needed rather than cloister him. "Jesse is still allowed to do anything he wants to maintain his independence. He coped well as a person, gradually taking more responsibility. He's grown up a bit."
