Ryder set to quit NZ for England

Wellington allrounder Jesse Ryder is set to quit NZ Cricket and look to a future with the England team after signing for Ireland as their overseas professional.

Ryder already qualifies for England selection through his parents ancestry with his father having a British passport.

Ryder told the New Zealand newspaper The Sunday News “I have talked about it with a few people – it’s always an option. Both of my parents’ dads are from England. And my dad has got a British passport.”

Ryder went onto say “I don’t worry about playing for New Zealand anymore, to be honest. It would be a good challenge playing for England. I know I am only young but I have had two very good New Zealand A tours and stuff like that – but I don’t even get a chance.”

“I’ve been doing a job on the field. So I can’t see why they didn’t give me a go, ” he added.

Ryder has played 36 first-class games and averages 44.88 with five hundreds and 12 fifties, while having played 49 List A matches for an average of 24.93 with two hundreds and 6 fifties. He averages 26.56 in first-class cricket and 28.12 in List A with the ball.

Ryder pulled himself out of the upcoming New Zealand A tour of Australia saying “I didn’t want to play for them for another year. I have told New Zealand Cricket. It didn’t go down well, I had a few phone calls.”

Ryder is also looking at leaving Wellington with the player having had offers from other domestic sides and an Australian state team.