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SYDNEY - Jesse Ryder came through the dress rehearsal in style. But it's the next few weeks that could define his test cricket career, says his New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.
Ryder arrived at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday, a glint in his eye, as he threw himself around the hallowed turf at fielding practice and batted in the nets under the shadow of the historic members' pavilion.
He will bat No 3 for New Zealand in their four-day warmup match against New South Wales starting here tomorrow then, barring accidents, fill the same role in next week's first test on a hard and fast Brisbane pitch.
Looking ahead to the two-test series against the world No 1 Australians, Ryder told the Herald on Sunday: "I've been waiting for this chance all my life."
Vettori was encouraged by Ryder's maiden tour of Bangladesh last month when he scored 169 runs at 56.33, including 91 in the second test in Mirpur. And not only on the field.
"This is a real test for him. Bangladesh was the ideal way to start his comeback into international cricket, being out of the spotlight, now this and our home summer will be a real challenge for him," Vettori said.
"The way he carried himself in Bangladesh, with his performance on the field but the work he did off the park, is a good sign.
"If he can get through this tour with strong performances, that's hopefully the start of some great things to come. "Ryder has worked hard to clean up his fitness and off-field behaviour, which reached a low point in a Christchurch bar in February when he slashed his arm on a window and cost himself an England tour place where the test No 3 spot provided some headaches.
The hard-hitting left-hander stayed off the alcohol and displayed a distinct attitude change in Bangladesh as he made a long-awaited test debut at 24. The social distractions of Australia will be there, but in a tight-knit New Zealand team the senior men don't think it'll be an issue.
"He knows what he wants now. He was unsure before, now he wants to be involved with the New Zealand team as long as he can and be an amazing performer," Vettori said.
"In the past he just stumbled onto something, now he's pretty sure of himself." New Zealand coach John Bracewell was wary of placing undue pressure on Ryder but admitted he was impressed by his efforts in Bangladesh.
Not only does he give the New Zealand top-order some scoring power, his fielding and medium-pace bowling come into the equation as the tourists look to play four pacemen without the injured Jacob Oram, and probably omit fellow allrounder Grant Elliott.
"I was delighted with his development and I think his development will continue, without putting any numbers on it or expectations," Bracewell said.
"He showed that he has good cricket sense and good all-round cricket skills.
"He moves very well in the field, he's got very good hands, he's surprisingly sharp for a big fella in the first couple of steps.
"I haven't seen enough of Jesse but what I've seen in the short term... most guys say his first-class record is reasonably good, better than his one-day record.
"He's put together scores in first-class cricket and lets see if he can put scores together in test cricket under the scrutiny of a topline bowling attack."
- NZPA
