Cricket: Ryder out as injury hits again

Jesse Ryder had a poor T20 series against Pakistan. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Jesse Ryder and injury have been unwelcome companions for much of his international career.

The latest issue is an inflamed shoulder which has forced the Wellington left-hander out of the New Zealand XI's three-day match against Pakistan starting at Whangarei's Cobham Oval tomorrow.

Canterbury batsman Dean Brownlie has been called into the side.

New Zealand Cricket medical staff have said Ryder's injury is not thought to be serious. The move is more of a precaution ahead of the first test starting in Hamilton next Friday, and designed to prevent any aggravation to an old elbow injury.

It leaves him little time to be ready for a five-day contest, after a diet of T20 cricket over the last month.

Ryder left the tour of India at the end of the third test in late November after suffering a calf strain in the first innings.

He returned to the Wellington side for the HRV Cup on December 12 and in four games of the 20-over format scored 4, 13, 86 (off 47 balls, against Northern Districts) and 56 (off 33 against Canterbury).

However, he had a poor T20 series against Pakistan, making 6, 0 and 0, and facing just 11 balls.

He was not expected to do any bowling in the two tests, but his batting average of 50.95 from 14 tests is compelling ammunition in his favour, provided his shoulder recovers.

Several New Zealand XI players will welcome a decent workout at Cobham Oval.

The Nos 1 and 11 in the batting order, Tim McIntosh and Chris Martin, have not played a game of note since leaving India after the third test in Nagpur ended a day early on November 23.

McIntosh will welcome a look at the Pakistani bowlers, while Martin, along with captain Dan Vettori, who missed the T20 series against the tourists, needs some bowling to prepare for the first test.

Brendon McCullum had one bat in the domestic T20 for Otago before withdrawing from the rest of the competition to try to iron out a niggling back complaint. Having missed the three 20-over internationals this week, he too will value time at the crease.

Most of those in the game are expected to be named in the test squad, with the probable exceptions of batsman BJ Watling and swing bowler Trent Boult.

The game will be 12-a-side, enabling both teams to use an extra bowler.

New Zealand are due to name the 12th player either later today or tomorrow morning.

The smart money would be on a Central Districts' fast-medium bowler who drops out of their HRV Cup final squad of 13, with perhaps either Mitchell McClenaghan or Doug Bracewell at the front of the queue.

In Pakistan's case, coach Waqar Younis confirmed the tourists will use their anticipated test line-up.

Their test captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, is one of four newcomers who were not in Pakistan's T20 squad.

The others are opener Taufeeq Umar, middle order batsman Azhar Ali and awkward left arm swing bowler Sohail Tanvir, who is a late addition after overcoming knee problems, which have blighted his career in recent months.

Waqar made it plain what Thursday night's thumping T20 win in Christchurch meant to the players.

"Just to get momentum going into the test matches we needed this victory, and the boys played to their potential," he said.

"It definitely gives us a bit of a push going into the tests. It's a new ball game."

NEW ZEALAND XI v PAKISTAN

Cobham Oval, Whangarei, starting tomorrow

New Zealand XI: Dan Vettori (c), Tim McIntosh, Brendon McCullum, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, Dean Brownlie, James Franklin, Reece Young, Brent Arnel, Trent Boult, Chris Martin, one to be added.

Pakistan (from): Misbah-ul-Haq (c) Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz.