Cricket: Ryder fined for serious misconduct

NZC has taken action for a third time against Jesse Ryder. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Controversial New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder is in trouble again, this time after admitting being intoxicated and rowdy at a hotel.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) charged the hard-hitting Wellington batsman with serious misconduct, which he admitted, and fined him an undisclosed amount.

The charge stemmed from an incident when Ryder was participating in a regional indoor cricket competition in Christchurch in early July. A complaint arose at the hotel where Ryder's team were staying which included noise disruption by the team.

"Jesse, to his credit, brought the incident to the attention of New Zealand Cricket and has admitted his role in it," NZC general manager of cricket Geoff Allott said today.

"NZC is extremely disappointed in this breach of trust and protocol by Jesse and view the matter very seriously."

It is the third time NZC has taken action against Ryder, who turned 26 yesterday, for an alcohol-related incident since early 2008 when it ordered Ryder to apologise and pay for the damage he caused when badly cutting his hand while attempting to break into a Christchurch hotel toilet.

In January last year, he was stood down for the fourth one-day international against the West Indies after indulging in a late night drinking session after the third match of the series and missing a team meeting the following morning.

Allott told NZPA that Ryder had been left in no doubt about the repercussions should he transgress again.

"The player and New Zealand Cricket are very aware and accepting of the fact that Jesse has got to change his ways and a reoccurrence of an alcohol-fuelled incident just will not be tolerated."

Allott said Ryder had worked hard to improve his off-field behaviour. "There is no doubt Jesse has made significant improvement and at times he has really being trying extremely hard around his fitness as well.

"But at the end of the day he has got to be doing more than that. We have guys who are 100 per cent committed most of the time and we can't afford to have any inconsistencies with that. Jesse knows he is letting himself down.

"We have seen some positive progress from Jesse in recent times, which make this incident even more disappointing.

"Jesse has been fined in line with our serious misconduct provisions and clearly understands we will not tolerate a repetition of this type of behaviour," he said.

NZC said Ryder admitted to being intoxicated and rowdy.

In a statement Ryder wrote to NZC he stated: "I accept that being intoxicated and rowdy during the night put me in a position where I put New Zealand Cricket and my own reputation at risk and I accept this is not tolerable. The potential consequences of this event have distressed me over the last few weeks.

"I have apologised to the hotel for my behaviour and I have put a lot of time into working out a plan to prevent me being in this position again.

"I am committed to making the right changes in my life as I really want a long career as a professional cricket player. I've had enough of getting into this sort of trouble and bringing attention to myself.

"I know the changes I am making do not dismiss the misconduct issue, however I am fully committed to being a Black Cap and I am committed to doing what is necessary to be the best I can be."

A fierce striker of the ball, Ryder's his time in the middle has been disrupted by a series of injuries since he debuted for New Zealand in early 2008.

An elbow injury means he is not with the New Zealand side beginning a one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka next week against the host nation and India.

As well, he missed most of last season after undergoing surgery to strengthen his abdominal wall.

- NZPA