Cricket: Ryder back for Bangladesh tour

Batsman Jesse Ryder. Photo / Getty Images

Batsman Jesse Ryder makes his comeback to the national cricket team after an extended injury break for next month's tour to Bangladesh.

The New Zealand squad to contest five one-day internationals against Bangladesh, and the New Zealand A team to play a Zimbabwe selection were both named today.

The Black Caps will play one warm-up game in Bangladesh before the one-day series, while New Zealand A has a scheduled two-day warm-up match before three four-day games against a Zimbabwe 11.

The Black Caps will be without all-rounder Scott Styris, out with a partial stress fracture to his lumbar spine.

Styris will be on a progressive strengthening and loading programme for six to eight weeks before starting a bowling plan in mid October.

New Zealand coach and selector Mark Greatbatch said some selections were made with future tours and succession planning in mind.

"Hamish Bennett has been included in the squad on the back of a solid NZA tour and multiple successful domestic seasons. He is an exciting fast bowler and we are sure he will make the most of this opportunity."

Greatbatch said the selectors had named batsman Martin Guptill in the New Zealand A team to give him the best possible chance to recapture form.

"We are keen for Martin Guptill to regain the form that made him such a force for the Black Caps last year, and think the four-day matches in Zimbabwe will give him the best opportunity to do that."

Three spinners have been included in the New Zealand A team, and Greatbatch said Nick Beard and Bhupinder Singh would benefit from playing along side Jeetan Patel.

Both deserved their opportunity having both impressed on recent training camps, he added.

"As we develop depth for the coming 12 months and narrow our focus on the ICC Cricket World Cup next February, it's important that we give players the opportunity to stake their claims for future selection."

The A team tour will be New Zealand's first contact with Zimbabwe since the 2005 tour there by the Black Caps. Health and safety issues within Zimbabwe have limited international cricket tours contact for most countries.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said he was comfortable with the improved conditions and stability in Zimbabwe, after NZC had liaised with the New Zealand government in monitoring the situation there.

"A rejuvenated Zimbabwe has their sights set on test cricket and the New Zealand A tour will help provide experience and incentive for them to reach their goal, as well as strong competition for the New Zealand A team."

Vaughan said the tour would be subject to standard full safety and security checks before the team left.

NZC general manager Geoff Allott and Cricket Players Association executive manager Heath Mills today left New Zealand to complete a rigorous pre-tour inspection of Zimbabwe and India ahead of the upcoming tours.

- NZPA