Jesse Ryder on track; no return yet in sight

LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax NZ

WORKING HARD: Jesse Ryder has impressed Wellington coach Jamie Siddons with his work ethic in preseason training.

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Jesse Ryder has been going the extra mile in Christchurch but his estrangement from New Zealand Cricket seems likely to continue.

Ryder was last week spotted at New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) high performance centre in Lincoln, where New Zealand A are hosting India A.

His appearance sparked interest that his self-imposed sabbatical may be close to an end.

Sadly for fans of the swashbuckling left-hander, it's not.

Ryder paid his own way to Lincoln to spend a couple of days working with NZC strength and conditioning co-ordinator Bryan Stronach and to watch the A series.

NZC is happy with Ryder's progress and has told him he is more than welcome to use resources such as Stronach, though Ryder is no longer an NZC employee.

Ryder is doing his own fitness work but "just wanted to come down and work with Bryan to make sure he was on the right track with it all", according to NZC national selection manager Kim Littlejohn.

"And it sounds like he is - his own training is going well. It sounds like it's all going well."

Ryder and his manager, Aaron Klee, declined to comment.

- © Fairfax NZ News