Mark Richardson: So what! No rider on ability

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Upon getting out for a brilliant 201, Jesse Ryder smashed his bat on the ground, smashed it on his pads, smashed it on a concrete step, threw it on the pavement, threw it in the dressing room and then effectively threw back at reporters a big fat "so what" when prodded about the theatrics.

I'm with him on that one - so what! It actually gave us all an insight into why he's so good. The past doesn't matter, what matters to him is the next ball and then the next one after that. He just wants to bat.

Okay, a wobbly like that is not a great look and fans in the stands and watching on television may want him to share the joy his batting performance had given them as they applaud him off - but that's just not Jesse Ryder.

Maybe one day he'll change, but for now I'm not going to ask to him to and maybe right now he should come with a parental guidance tag.

Consecutive test match scores of 89, 57, 59 no, 102, 21 and 201 say something is working and Ryder is in a great space right now. He's an uncut diamond and any attempt to cut and polish him may prove fruitless and even damaging.

Yes, getting blind drunk and into mischief is far from ideal, especially from a New Zealand Cricket public relations perspective but such has been the quality of Ryder's cricket that, if the odd late night sighting happens, it only builds on his cult status and his special appeal.

However, if Ryder has in fact been on the wagon this season then I hope he stays on it. It's working, whatever it is.

I don't care if Ryder gets grumpy after getting out. I don't care that he's not the greatest media talent, all I care about is that Ryder is one heck of a cricketing talent and I hope to see that talent continues to be realised the way it has been so far.
The toughest decisions Ryder probably has to make right now are if to crack the top off a cold one, when to crack the top off a cold one and what to do once he's cracked the top off a few cold ones.

He's had a little trouble in the past making those decisions but he has no trouble making the right calls at the crease. His approach to batting is brilliantly simplistic and uncluttered. There is little complication to the way he plays and that is the way it needs to stay.

Life doesn't seem that complicated to Jesse Ryder. He does what he wants, says what he wants and asks us all to take him as he is.

Right now, that is as one heck of a good cricketer who does not fit the mould. The only thing that may complicate matters are those wanting to change him.