| Jesse Ryder's decision not to seek a New Zealand Cricket contract is to be applauded. He has a raft of personal issues to sort out and the quality of a person's life far outweighs the playing of a game, although it should be added that one can certainly improve the other. Ryder is taking steps to address them in his own way. By all accounts, his time at the Indian Premier League went well, even if, along with the rest of the New Zealand contingent, his on-field form was patchy. He has turned down one English county contract, and it's far from a done deal that he'll take up a major association deal with Wellington in a couple of months either. Ryder is doing things on his terms, and while there have been some false dawns, with luck a rejuvenated, switched on Ryder will return in a few months and be the top-class cricketer his talent suggests he can be, and, given the shallow player pool it possesses, New Zealand certainly needs. Some time ago, Ryder was counted out of New Zealand's tour to the West Indies, which starts later this month. |