Former New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder pleads guilty to drunk driving

Former international New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder who had personality issues during the playing days of his cricketing career has pleaded guilty to driving with more than thrice the actual alcohol limit. Jesse Ryder was pulled over on Taradale Road in Napier on February 7 and was highly under the influence of alcohol consumption reading of 873 micrograms per litre of breath when the legal alcohol limit is 250mcg.

The former Black Caps opening batsman had also appeared in Napier District Court on Wednesday and his guilty plea was approached by lawyer James Rainger. Judge Bridget Mackintosh had sentenced Jesse Ryder to nine months supervision and then ordered him to undertake drug or alcohol counselling session as required. He could not drive until the end of March and then could apply to drive with a breath alcohol ignition interlock device.

Jesse Ryder’s cricketing career marred by alcoholic addiction

Jesse Ryder’s last international appearance came in January 2014 before a string of many off-field incidents involving alcohol saw him overlooked by the national team selectors. While cricketers’ careers have been ruined by politics in contemporary cricket and there is Jesse Ryder who ruined his career due to his addiction with alcohol.

Earlier, on January 7, 2009, Jesse Ryder engaged in a late-night drinking session after the third ODI against West Indies and after which he missed a team meeting the next morning and was unable to train in the afternoon. He was subsequently axed for the next game. Jesse Ryder was pretty good batsman during his heydays but at the same time was addicted to alcohol. New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan was ready to help him out with his drinking problem but things didn’t turn out well.

Ryder has represented the New Zealand national cricket team in 18 tests, 48 ODIs and 22 T20 internationals between 2008 and 2014. Jesse Rider who played across formats was a middle-order batsman in Tests and an opening batsman in ODIs. Despite his batting traits, he also bowls useful medium-pace. He has previously represented his nation in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup of 2002.

Ryder played his last first-class game for the Stags in March 2018 as they clinched that season’s Plunket Shield title. However, he was not given a contract for the 2018-19 season. During last summer as player-coach of Napier Technical Old Boys, Jesse Ryder steered the Central Districts champions to back-to-back national club trophies with a sensational win over Canterbury club St Albans.