Ryder and Gillespie to return against England U19s

CRICKET WELLINGTON MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 6 January 2010

Ryder and Gillespie to return against England U19s

The Wellington A team to play England U19 in a 50-over match at Karori Park on Thursday 7 January, starting at 10.30am, is:

BJ Crook (captain)

Joe Austin-Smellie

Josh Brodie

Fraser Colson

Mark Gillespie

Mark Houghton

Ronald Karaitiana

Michael Pollard

Stewart Rhodes

Jesse Ryder

Robbie Schaw

Malaesaili Tugaga

The Wellington A team includes internationals Jesse Ryder and Mark Gillespie who are both returning to representative cricket from injuries.

Jesse Ryder will make his return from a groin injury that has sidelined him from all cricket since September. Ryder’s last match was for the BLACKCAPS against Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy on 27 September last year.

Ryder has been selected to play as a batsman only, and he will bat with a runner and will not field. His participation has been negotiated in consultation with New Zealand Cricket as part of his rehabilitation. BLACKCAPS physiotherapist Kate Stalker said the match is an opportunity for him to have what will essentially be an open wicket practice.

"Hopefully this will help him to build up some batting endurance," said Stalker. "Jesse is progressing well, but until he has completed his rehabilitation and has passed a range of intensive fitness tests he will not be available for full selection for Wellington or the BLACKCAPS. Jesse is a vital part of the BLACKCAPS and we want to do everything possible to prevent a recurrence of this injury and ensure that his rehabilitation is complete."

30-year old opening bowler Gillespie will play in his first representative match since injuring his back playing for the Wellington Firebirds against the Canterbury Wizards in a domestic One-Day match on 19 January last year.

Gillespie has played 46 Test, ODI and Twenty20 internationals and taken 58 wickets for New Zealand and last played for the BLACKCAPS against the West Indies in January 2009.

The pair are part of an experienced Wellington A line-up, with Fraser Colson the only player not to have represented the Wellington Firebirds in first-class or One-Day cricket. Colson was a member of the New Zealand U19 side at the 2008 ICC U19 World Cup in Malaysia .

This match is a warm-up for the England U19s ahead of the ICC U19 World Cup, while also serving as an excellent opportunity for Wellington A players to further press their claims for Wellington Firebirds selection.

The England team is based in Wellington this week in preparation for the start of the ICC U19 World Cup this weekend. The opening ceremony is at Lincoln University on Sunday.

ENDS

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