Jesse Ryder fights for life after brawl

“The cricketer is a critical condition and his family is at his bed side,” the hospital sources said. This attack comes just two days before the cricketer was set to travel to India for the Indian Premier League to compete for the Delhi Daredevils who paid $ 260,000 for him at this year’s auction. 

 

Ryder has had a history of disciplinary lapses and alcohol related incidents however the police who have been investigating the early morning brawl stated that alcohol was not a factor in the incident.Detective senior Sergeant Brian Archer said that there was an altercation between the cricketer and two or three people outside the bar. Ryder then crossed the road to fast-food joint where he was attacked by one of the individuals involved in the first confrontation. The cricketer as a result of the same suffered multiple injuries and a cracked skull. 

 

A witness to the incident identifying himself as Adam said that the cricketer tried to protect himself but was badly smashed by attackers. The police are also viewing close CCTV footage of the attack. Ryder was with his Wellington teammates at the time he was attacked. 

 

The cricketer has been on a self imposed break from international cricket in a bid to address some “personal issues” following a series of events. 

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key wished speedy recovery for the cricketer and said that the attack seemed unprovoked and there could be something extremely vicious behind the whole incident.

 

New Zealand Players Association chief executive Heath Mills said that Ryder was known to have resumed drinking the past weeks. "It will be an ongoing struggle for Jesse and we need to do all we can to help him. So it shouldn't be a surprise if, in the future, we have to deal with isolated issues," Mills said. 

 

Meanwhile the chief of the New Zealand Cricket board expressed his concern “We are all shocked by what has occurred and extremely concerned for Jesse. New Zealand Cricket's thoughts are with him and his family."