Club: Naenae Old Boys
Wellington Firebirds debut: Auckland Aces 2004-05 (first-class)
Best bat: 236 v Central Stags 200-05 (first-class)
Best bowl: 4 for 23 v Otago Volts 2004-05 (first-class)
Big hitting left hander and crowd favourite Jesse Ryder is back at full fitness ahead of a busy 2011-12 summer of cricket. Ryder, who last summer fought back from stomach and groin injuries after missing almost the entire domestic and home international season in 2009-10, has been training hard in the nets and in the boxing gym in the off-season.
The 2009 Redpath Cup winner came back to score a sumptuous 103 for the Firebirds in the last match of the 2009-10 season against the Otago Volts, but was then ruled out of New Zealand’s winter series against Sri Lanka with an elbow injury.
He returned for the BLACKCAPS for their tours of Bangladesh and India towards the end of 2010, and made his full comeback for the Firebirds in December’s HRV Cup, before playing a full part in New Zealand’s home series against Pakistan and the 50-over World Cup that followed.
The previous season had been a big one for excitement machine Ryder, cementing his name in lights as an automatic selection for the BLACKCAPS’ Test, ODI and Twenty20 sides with a string of impressive performances.
In nine Tests throughout the 2008-09 season he scored 771 runs at an average of 55.07 including two centuries, one of which was a double century against India in Napier. In 12 One Day Internationals, Ryder scored 476 runs at 47.60 including a maiden century against India, 105, at Christchurch.
These exploits earned him Cricket Wellington’s Best Batsman award at the end of season awards dinner in April 2009 and subsequently the Redpath Cup as New Zealand’s premier batsman in October 2009.
JESSE RYDER
Playing style: Left hand bat, right arm medium bowler
Nickname: Dija
Secondary school attended: Napier Boys’ High School
Club: Naenae Old Boys
Favourite ground to play cricket on: McLean Park, Napier
Most memorable cricket moment: Scoring 201 against India at McLean Park in March 2009
If I could bat/bowl in partnership with any cricketer from any era I would chose:Mark Calkin
Favourite player growing up: Tipene Friday
The non-cricketing sports person or team I most admire: The Boston Celtics and the Melbourne Storm
If I wasn’t a Firebirds cricketer I’d be: A Playstation game tester
Favourite superhero: Sub Zero
Favourite book/magazine: Scar Tissue
If I was in a band I would play the: Guitar and lead the vocals
In my spare time I like to: Follow rugby league and play golf
My signature dish is: Steak and salad