http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JD-Ryder-c1679 – Cricket News Update
Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum has expressed his disappointment with the conduct of left-handed batsman Jesse Ryder, who was recently banned from the upcoming ODI against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Auckland-c766.
Ryder, accompanied by the young pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Doug-Bracewell-c1394, went out to a hotel in Napier, following the team’s 6-wicket defeat by the Proteas in the second ODI on February 29, where both players consumed alcohol, and were involved in an unpleasant exchange of
words with a bar patron.
McCullum has expressed disapproval for his team members’ conduct, hours after they had suffered a defeat.
“From our point of view, we'd just suffered another tough loss, our fourth in a row, and it certainly wasn't the time to be out socialising and being seen in public drinking,” McCullum stated.
Both players have been banned from the last ODI of the series, due to take place at the Eden Park, Auckland, on March 3. Team management clarified that while it was not a breach of the code of conduct, both players had known that the consumption of alcohol
was not advisable for players recovering from injuries – Bracewell had been dealing with a tight hamstring complaint, while Ryder was recovering from a hand and calf injury.
McCullum has lamented the fact that the incident has been receiving excessive media coverage, which has been detrimental to the image of the national team.
“... from a teammate perspective, it is frustrating because you just want your team performances to be doing the talking rather than any off-field behaviour,” the skipper said.
He did, however, express satisfaction with the way the team management had dealt with the issue.
“They've been very strong-handed with it, and I think that was what was required, and we can't have these sorts of disruptions in the team either,” he said.
The 27-year-old all-rounder has already left the team, and returned home to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wellington-c864. In addition to his one-match ban, he has also been excluded in the squad for the Test leg of the series, but this owes more to fitness concerns than any disciplinary
issues.
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