Jesse Ryder

On 7 January 2009, Ryder indulged in a "late night drinking session" after the 3rd ODI against the West Indies. He missed a team meeting the following morning and was unable to train in the afternoon. He was subsequently dropped for the 4th ODI.[12]

As Ryder had established a good record (Test Average: 49.33, ODI Average: 34.33) in his first season, New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan was ready to help him with his drinking problem.[13]

Ryder played in the 5th ODI on 13 January 2009, and scored 21. Two days later, Justin Vaughan and Ryder's manager Aaron Klee announced that Ryder had agreed to go cold turkey.[14]

Ryder scored only 8 runs against South Africa, but in a must-win match for NZ against Sri Lanka he scored 74. When on 5 he pulled a leg abductor muscle and batted with a runner. Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, felt the injury compelled Ryder to cut loose. "I just think he let out some frustration and it worked for us". He reached 50 in just 28 balls and scored his 74 off 58 balls. After being dismissed he whacked a chair with his bat and was fined 15% of his match fee for "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings".[15]

It was later revealed that the team manager, Dave Currie, gave Ryder a "dressing-down" for his behaviour and Ryder responded with a "tirade" of abuse, which resulted in misconduct charge on his return from South Africa. The hearing was held on 22 October 2009, on the same day Ryder was awarded the Redpath Cup. The punishment is not known.[16]

Further alcohol incidents emerged during the India series. Ryder was filmed by patrons in an intoxicated state with Jimmy Neesham outside the 1885 Bar in Auckland's Britomart just hours after the Blackcaps secured a dramatic tie against India at Eden Park. On 5 February 2014, just hours after being named as the backup to Ross Taylor (who was expecting his second child) for the first test match against India the next day, Ryder was seen drinking along with Doug Bracewell at a pirate themed party occurring at the Car Park bar with More FM radio personalities. It was reported that Ryder left the bar at 2 am with the possibility of playing against India that very day. Their Blackcaps teammates were reportedly livid over the latest late night session and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) reacted furiously at the news. Ryder was subsequently dropped for the second test match against India beginning 14 February 2014 after this third incident. He was also omitted for the ICC T20 world cup to be held in Bangladesh during March on 'character grounds' due to his alcohol fueled indiscretions.

Ryder returned to the Otago Volts to finish out the remainder of the New Zealand domestic series. His international career continued to remain in limbo when he was omitted from the side to tour the West Indies in July 2014, when it was announced on 15 April 2014. A statement from NZC said that Ryder had not satisfied the selectors that he had his off field issues under control.

On 28 March 2013, it was reported by media, and later confirmed by police, that Ryder was in a critical condition at Christchurch Hospital after being assaulted outside the Aikman's Bar in Merivale, Christchurch in the early hours of that morning.[17][18] It was reported that four men were involved in the attack, which spread from the bar into the carpark of the McDonald's restaurant across the street.[19] It was reported that Ryder had suffered a fractured skull and a collapsed lung and was in a medically induced coma.[20] However Ryder subsequently announced that his skull had not been fractured.[21] By 31 March, two men were charged with the assault, and Ryder was moved out of intensive care.

In 2016 two men pleaded guilty to the assault: Craig Joseph O'Neill, 38, a builder, and his nephew Dylan James O'Neill, 22, a carpet layer.[22]

New Zealand rapper Scribe made headlines when he suggested on his Twitter account that Ryder must have said something to prompt the attack.[23] He later apologised for the remarks,[24] and Ryder responded "Thanks again to everyone for the support esp my good mate Scribe. #NotManyIfAny".[25]

Lawyers for the two men accused of the attack, who received name suppression, said Ryder had only been punched once, and his injuries were nowhere near as severe as what had been reported, despite his being put into a coma.[26]

A man who posted video of Ryder's accused attackers on the internet was himself charged with breaching a suppression order.[27] The man, Jordan Mason, pleaded guilty to uploading the clip to YouTube.[28]

On 6 February 2009, just before the Indian series kicked off, Ryder's services were bought by the Bangalore Royal Challengers for $US160,000 ($NZ318,280).[29] However, he struggled during the season, scoring a total of 56 runs, and was only chosen to play in 5 out of 16 of his team's games. Ryder also "fell off the wagon after 100 hard-fought days of sobriety",[30] according to the NZ Herald.

Ryder moved to the Otago Volts during the off season in 2013 citing a breakdown with his relationships with teammates at the Wellington Firebirds as the main reason. The move proved to be a success with Ryder scoring two centuries and two fifties upon his return from the doping ban between October and December 2013.

Beginning in the 2014 English season, Ryder was contracted to play for Essex. He took 43 wickets in his first season,[31] and 44 in the 2015 season.[32]

In November 2017, he scored his 25th century in first-class cricket, batting for Central Districts against Auckland in the 2017–18 Plunket Shield season.[33]

• Jesse Ryder on Twitter
• Jesse Ryder at ESPNcricinfo