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Toilet mishap leaves Kiwi star out for three months

Rising New Zealand star Jesse Ryder is out of cricket for up to three months after injuring his hand in a bar celebrating New Zealand's one-day series win over England, officials said yesterday.

Ryder damaged an index finger and thumb when he broke a window early yesterday while trying to access a toilet which had been locked.

New Zealand officials said it would be six weeks before Ryder could start light training and up to three months before he can play competitively again.

The 23-year-old requires a reconstruction to the exterior tendon on his index finger, a flap reconstruction and a skin graft.

Ryder and Brendon McCullum put on 100 in 11 overs on Saturday to lay the platform for a 34-run win to take the series 3-1.

A big hitting batsmen and useful bowler, Ryder scored 196 runs at an average of 49 in the series but the injury has ruined his chances of playing in next month's three Test series against England.

Team manager Lindsay Crocker said the New Zealand team and officials were disappointed in Ryder's behavior.

"We recognize the pressure Jesse has been under through his success in the England series and he has suddenly become a high profile international player," Crocker said.

"However, this behavior is unacceptable and we will have a serious discussion with him to ensure situations like this do not occur in the future," he said.

Ryder has a "bad-boy" reputation that had been kept him out of New Zealand teams until this year when chief selector Sir Richard Hadlee said his attitude had improved.

Crocker repeated that Ryder had shown increasing maturity during the England series, but added "in light of this event we shall ensure additional support is provided to Jesse."

Ryder is to pay for the damage and apologize to the bar owner but Crocker said no further disciplinary action would be taken as the injuries "should serve as enough of a lesson."
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