Cricket's 'easy Ryder' still a little rough

Removing Jesse Ryder's rough edges is still a work in progress.

Last night's lesson for the international newcomer was that it's not a good look to wander into a press conference clutching a bottle of Heineken.

New Zealand Cricket news media manager John Durning managed to put the offending bottle in an unseen spot no Trevor Mallard jokes please before it was noticed by any others among the throng of Kiwi and English journalists gathered after last night's 10-wicket drubbing of England by the Black Caps.

It was just a small sign that Ryder, who has been known to over-indulge during a chequered career that has included a number of run-ins with authority, has some distance to go before he's the finished article.

But on the field, there's few edges mostly just the middle of his broad, blazing bat, sending the ball into the distance.

"He's difficult to bowl to," admitted England skipper Paul Collingwood. "He doesn't move his feet too much, he just stands there and hits the ball."

There's few frills about the Masterton-born 23-year-old Ryder when he speaks either.

"I don't think I've got any words to explain it," Ryder said after his exciting, unbeaten 79 last night. "My first 50, a massive partnership, win the game by 10 wickets. It's just amazing," Ryder said.

"I've just basically been told to play my strokes and that's what I'm doing. The England bowlers are probably not bowling as well as they could to me.

"Life at the moment is great."

- © Fairfax NZ News