New Zealand Cricket

Ryder pulls out of A series in UAE

Jesse Ryder had shown signs of being back to his explosive best for Essex and Otago before being picked for New Zealand A © Getty Images

New Zealand opener Jesse Ryder has withdrawn from the A team's tour to the UAE due to personal reasons. While New Zealand Cricket did not specify what those reasons were, and said it respected Ryder's decision, this pullout will have the board pondering whether he can make it back to top-flight cricket in time for February's World Cup.

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 asix-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. When he was picked for the New Zealand A squad, after showing signs of being back to his explosive best for Essex and Otago, it was seen as a step towards a recall for the World Cup.

NZC's general manager, national selection, Bruce Edgar said Ryder had made the decision after meeting with Otago Volts officials in Dunedin. Ryder had not played Volts' last game, against Canterbury in Christchurch on Sunday.

"NZC respects Jesse's decision and is currently considering options for a replacement," Edgar said. The New Zealand A squad leaves for the UAE on Wednesday evening, for a series of one-day games.

Taylor not certain for Abu Dhabi Test

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has said he is not a certain starter for the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, beginning on November 9, because of a right calf strain. Taylor sustained the injury on September 23 and exacerbated it when he began running again, forcing him to miss the ODI series against South Africa at home, which New Zealand lost 0-2.

''I feel okay but on Tuesday I was running at 75-80%. It's a little bit strange travelling on a tour when you're not 100% and hoping to get the other 20% when you're away,'' Taylor told Dominion Post. ''I've been able to bat over the last two weeks and felt it a couple of times but nothing major. It's probably going to be a push to play that warm-up game [on Monday], and see how they [medical staff] think it's going and whether it's good enough to play that first Test.''

New Zealand have departed for the UAE and they begin their tour with a three-day game against Pakistan A in Sharjah, from November 3. Without Taylor and Kane Williamson, who was also injured, New Zealand struggled against South Africa and they are likely to be tested further in conditions that are vastly different to those at home. Taylor said his preparation for the series against Pakistan, who rely heavily on spin, was not ideal.

''I haven't hit as many balls as I would like,'' Taylor said. ''Over the next little while I'm trying to cram it in. I haven't faced a lot of spin lately; there's not too many spinners going around in New Zealand in the nets. I guess experience and the mental side of the game will come into it a bit more. It's a tough tour and it's probably not ideal preparation for me; I only watched the last day of the Test [Pakistan v Australia] and it was spinning sideways.