The Black Caps batsman Jesse Ryder is taking an indefinite break from cricket.
Ryder was due to turn out for Wellington in their Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts starting at the Basin Reserve on Friday, however Cricket Wellington has confirmed that Ryder has requested leave from the match.
Cricket Wellington CEO Peter Clinton says Ryder and his management requested the leave so the batsman could have some time away from top-level cricket, to concentrate on his wellbeing.
Ryder and Doug Bracewell were dropped from the Black Caps one-day squad after breaking team protocol in Napier by drinking when injured.
Clinton says it's no secret that Ryder's had a rough past fortnight, and the advice from professionals associated with his care is that he's just not in the right frame of mind for first-class cricket.
Ryder's manager Aaron Klee confirmed that the decision to request leave from cricket was a collective one between Jesse, himself, Heath Mills and Karen Nimmo, the clinical psychologist Jesse works with.
