Ryder's punishment doesn't fit the crime
Simon Doull, writing for Fairfax NZ News , says that the powers that be continue to be soft with Jesse Ryder and that means he's only going to continue to put himself in situations that lead to trouble.
Nikita Bastian
25-Feb-2013
Simon Doull, writing for Fairfax NZ News, says that the powers that be continue to be soft with Jesse Ryder and that means he's only going to continue to put himself in situations that lead to trouble.
Surely it's part of Ryder's contractual obligations to the national body that he is fit, healthy and ready to play cricket for the Black Caps when required. Whether this was a minor breach or not, it was still a breach and his fifth stuff-up by my count. But even so, NZC continually seems to let him off with a slap over the wrist with a wet bus ticket. The message they are sending to younger players who train their guts out and don't carry on like Ryder is that you don't have to be professional to play for your country.
I think this was Ryder's final chance. And what, it's only taken one week since his return to international cricket after a two-month hiatus for him to find himself in trouble again. By dropping him only for one ODI, the message to everyone else is a bad one.
Nikita Bastian is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo