New Zealand omit Ryder from World Cup 30

New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder has been left out of the 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup. There weren't many surprises in the World Cup squad, which had no uncapped players.

Ryder's chances of making the squad were slim after he had withdrawn from the New Zealand A squad last month due to personal reasons. He hasn't played for New Zealand since January, but an impressive county season with Essex has brightened his prospects of a national recall. Last month's withdrawal, though, made a home World Cup for Ryder increasingly unlikely.

"When he pulled out he left us with no real information about him and as a result we didn't have enough conviction to warrant his selection," chief selector Bruce Edgar told Fairfax Media. "On balance we weighed it all up and thought we needed to see more. We never got to see enough and as a result we cut him from the 30."

Ryder has been sidelined due to off-field issues several times in the last three years. He was dropped for disciplinary issues during the one-day series against South Africa in February 2012, before having to serve a six-month suspension for taking banned stimulants - a period which coincided with his recovery from a serious assault he suffered in Christchurch in March 2013. He was recalled for the home series against West Indies in December, but, again, was dropped two months later for staying out late at an Auckland bar on the eve of a Test against India.