Jesse Ryder's troubled upbringing and weight issues have been well documented. A hard-hitting batsman and useful seamer, he seemed to have an international career with New Zealand ahead of him after a successful start to his first-class career and call-ups to the A team. However, he was continually overlooked for the national squad and refused to attend a training camp for a 30-man World Cup squad. His image as a bit of a wild-boy didn't help, but later in 2007 he told the selectors he wouldn't be available for the New Zealand A tour of Australia after signing as one of Ireland's overseas players. That relationship was brief, ending after three weeks when he failed to turn up for a match against Surrey. He finally got his wish of a national call-up in January 2008, when he was named in the ODI and Twenty20 squads to take on England and he quickly showed that he has the potential to be an explosive opening batsman - and he's a useful occasional medium-pacer as well. Ryder impressed with 196 runs at 49 in the five ODIs against England but ruined his chances of a trip for the return series by putting a hand through a glass window, after an evening of apparent drinking. The action came down for heavy criticism from New Zealand Cricket and Ryder was expected to be out for three months. However, the selectors showed faith in him with a national contract for 2008-09, and was selected in New Zealand's one-day squad for their tour of England, but Ryder was still injured and left on the sidelines. He had to wait till the tour of Bangladesh for his comeback and made his Test debut in the Chittagong Test. The selectors' faith was rewarded when he scored his maiden Test century - albeit in a losing cause - against India at Hamilton in March 2009, and followed up with an accomplished 201 in the second Test of the series at Napier. His accomplishments earned him an IPL contract with the Royal Challengers Bangalore that year.
Cricinfo staff March 2009