Cricket: Wellington’s hope lies with winning Ryder

Auckland might be defending champions and have home-ground advantage, but Wellington have one thing on their side - the hottest domestic cricketer in the country.

Jesse Ryder, the destructive left-hand middle-order batsman, has been named Deloitte Domestic Cricketer of the Month for March.

In the final three rounds of the State Championship, Ryder scored 370 runs at an average of 74. This included his highest first-class score, an outstanding 236 against former team Central Districts.

Given that Ryder harbours no warm feelings towards his former province, where he developed a not-altogether unwarranted reputation as a wild child, the innings, and the award, must come as great personal satisfaction.

Everyone knows Ryder can bat, particularly late in the season when the pitches finally see a bit of sun and act as they're supposed to, but his form with the ball has been encouraging as Wellington seek the outright victory over Auckland they'll require to defend their State Championship title.

In the past month he's taken 10 wickets in three matches at an average of 12.2 with best figures of 4 for 23 versus Otago in the final round of the competition.

The stocky Masterton-raised batsman was named one of three promising players in the 2003 New Zealand Cricket Almanack, along with Iain O'Brien and Tim McIntosh, after his first season in first-class cricket.

However, Ryder had a troubled 2003-04 season, falling foul of Central bosses before shifting slightly south.

Jesse Ryder has won the Deloitte Domestic Cricketer of the Month Award for March and takes home a Panasonic 29" TV.