KEY POINTS:
Jesse Ryder faces another moment of truth tomorrow when New Zealand Cricket are expected to confirm whether he is fit to join the tour of England.
Ryder, who has been in rehabilitation mode since seriously damaging a hand during a drunken episode in Christchurch in February, has been slated to reinforce the tour party of the one-day international leg of the tour next month.
However, it is understood he is still experiencing difficulty fielding - a problem that could prevent him heading to England in time for the first of five ODIs at Chester-le-Street on June 15.
The dynamic left-handed batsman was reportedly several days behind his recovery from surgery on his right hand earlier this month.
An operation was required after he put his hand through a toilet window inside a bar while celebrating New Zealand's one-day series win over England.
It is envisaged the ODI reinforcements Ryder, Scott Styris and Mark Gillespie would join the tour party on June 5 or 6.
Peter Fulton, named as cover for Ryder in the one-day squad, is already in England as part of the test squad.
The initial diagnosis was that Ryder would be out of cricket for three months after undergoing surgery on the exterior tendon on his index finger, a flap reconstruction and a skin graft on his right hand on February 24.
Ryder is seen by the national selectors as a key part of New Zealand's cricketing future, in tests and one-day internationals, despite his well-publicised social habits.
He received his first New Zealand contract last month, and is understood to be ranked around mid-table on the list of 20 contracted players with an annual retainer of around $120,000.
His debut series was a successful one against the touring England side in February, with his 196 runs at an average of 49 and strike rate of 91 at the top of the order earning his cult status.
He is also a useful medium pace change bowler.
- NZPA
