KEY POINTS:
Jesse Ryder's physical and mental rehabilitation appears complete with the hard hitting Wellington batsman today handed the opportunity to showcase his talent on the international cricketing stage.
The 23-year-old problem child of New Zealand cricket was the major selectorial talking point when Sir Richard Hadlee announced the Black Caps squad for two Twenty20 matches and three one-day internationals against England.
Ryder, whose talent has consistently been undermined by run-ins in with officialdom, has been chosen to open the batting with Brendon McCullum in both abbreviated forms of the game.
The former national age group representative, who had been accused of wanting to play for England after being snubbed by New Zealand's selection panel, is one of two new caps in the Black Caps squads named today.
Northern Districts seam bowler Tim Southee, who is bound for the under-19 World Cup in Malaysia next month, has been included in the Twenty20 squad.
Batsman Mathew Sinclair again finds himself on the outer, having being squeezed out by the selectors desire to see whether Ryder can cut it at the elite level.
The aggressive left-hander and handy medium pace bowler's last international experience ended farcically when he failed to turn up and play for his adopted Ireland last May.
Hadlee agreed there was no glossing over Ryder's behavioural issues but he was confident they had been addressed.
"We think he's made tremendous progress over the last 12 months. There have been issues but we see him as an exciting talent.
"His form has been a bit patchy this season but he's done it at A team level, he's done it for Wellington. He's an explosive batsman at the top of the order.
"If he comes off I think New Zealand cricket will see something really exciting."
Ryder has been in the frame since the start of the summer and was initially selected for the Twenty20 team to play Bangladesh before he was ruled out with injury.
Despite his problems off the park, his first-class record is impressive.
He averages 42.78 in first-class cricket, having amassed 2439 runs, including five centuries and 13 50s.
His one-day statistics are less impressive - he averages a modest 24.93 - but his ability to dismantle attacks remains a selling point, allied with his change of mind set.
"He's lost weight. We've been impressed with his attitude, his general work ethic has improved," Hadlee said.
Ryder's introduction sees Jamie How, who opened successfully against Bangladesh, slip a place to first drop and cast as the batsman the innings is built around.
Ross Taylor will be promoted to No 4, Scott Styris follows while Peter Fulton, who was initially earmarked as No 3 in the one-dayers and tests this summer, will slot in at No 6 ahead of allrounder Jacob Oram.
Meanwhile, Auckland allrounder Paul Hitchcock has also earned a recall for the first time since 2003-04, with Hadlee describing the medium pacer as a possible 'death' bowler - a role New Zealand has consistently struggled to fill.
Injuries to James Franklin, Mark Gillespie plus the unavailability of Shane Bond encouraged the selectors to blood Southee at international level.
"He's come through the age group process and we've elevated him quickly because we rate him," Hadlee said of the promising right-armer.
"He's tall, he runs in straight and he moves the ball away from the batsman.
"He's developing skills and confidence and further down the track he will offer us good performances."
Central Districts pace bowler Michael Mason replaces Southee in a one-day squad who could be revised for the final two matches in Napier and Christchurch.
The Twenty20 matches are in Auckland on next Tuesday and Christchurch two days later. The one-day series starts in Wellington on February 9 with games following in Hamilton on February 12 and Auckland on February 15.
- NZPA
NZ squads named to play England
Twenty20: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Jamie How, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Peter Fulton, Kyle Mills, Paul Hitchcock, Chris Martin, Tim Southee.
One-day: Vettori (captain), McCullum, Ryder, How, Taylor, Styris, Fulton, Oram, Mills, Hitchcock, Martin, Michael Mason, Jeetan Patel.
- NZPA WGT md kn
