Jesse Ryder is taking an indefinite break from cricket to resolve some personal issues after a "deeply stressful and emotional time" in and out of the New Zealand team.

In a statement released last night, Ryder's manager Aaron Klee confirmed the gifted batsman had withdrawn from the Plunket Shield match between Wellington and Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve to concentrate on his wellbeing.

"We hope that Jesse will be available for Firebirds selection again in the coming weeks, but it would be imprudent of me to try and put an exact date on this," Klee said.

Ryder and Doug Bracewell were dropped from the New Zealand one-day team after breaking team protocol in Napier by drinking when injured. They also reacted to a verbal taunt from a member of the public at a bar. Ryder had already been told he wasn't required for the test series due to fitness and form.

He was named in the Wellington team and trained with them this week. The decision to withdraw was a collective one made by Klee, Ryder, the clinical psychologist he works with, Karen Nimmo, Cricket Wellington and New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief executive Heath Mills.

"We are not dealing with this from a professional perspective as a cricketer, this is all about Jesse as a person. That is my total focus as his manager, and as his friend," Klee said.



Klee said the past few weeks in the public eye had taken a huge toll on Ryder. He was rushed back into the Black Caps for the Twenty20 match against South Africa in Auckland on February 22, scoring 52 off 42 balls in New Zealand's three-run loss.

He was criticised by former international Craig McMillan, who said Ryder should take the blame for the defeat and he'd let self-interest in trying to reach his half-century get in the way of the team cause.

Klee said: "That criticism would hurt anyone. He wasn't just questioning Jesse's batting, he was questioning his integrity."

Klee felt Ryder was recalled to the Black Caps too soon, after he'd been ordered by coach John Wright to get fit and prove he could get through back-to-back matches in a measured recovery from a torn calf muscle.

"Maybe it was too rushed. There were some pretty stressful times for him."