Not Bad For a Fat Lad: Ryder Shows He's More Than a Soap Opera

Sportsmen and women of the highest class seem to be able to defy a lack of natural physical elegance when performing at the best of their abilities.

Witness arguably the finest footballer in the world, Lionel Messi; off the pitch a vertically challenged, pidgin toed rake who is transformed into a priceless trinket of unabashed joy on the field, teasing his way around defender after helpless defender.

It is something which also works in the opposite fashion, namely those clumsy, seemingly oversized oafs whose sheer natural talent defies their physical limitations.

It is in truth, a phenomenon most common to cricket. Few sports can boast a list of greats so juxtaposed in terms of their natural stature, from ‘the Little Master,’ Sachin Tendulkar to "Big Bird," Joel Garner, the fearsome 6'8" in West Indian fast bowler of the '70s and '80s.

It also produces a fair few whose size is more spectacular in girth than height. Gatting, Inzamam, and Arjuna Ranatunga in particular spring to mind as the very epitome of the brilliant, overweight batsmen but another name could well be joining them on the list, that of Jesse Ryder.

Ryder is a larger than life character in more than just his grand size. His brief international career has been chequered by numerous drunken misdemeanours as well as concerns about his fitness levels and the 24 year old has admitted that he struggles to control his drinking after a highly publicised late night session in January.

The incident led to him being dropped from the Black Caps team for an ODI against the West Indies and came under a year after he lost out on a chance of a test debut against England having injured his hand punching through a glass window in a Christchurch bar.

However, Ryder’s wonderful double century against the Indian’s at Napier saw him go past 100 for the second time in successive tests, a clear indication of his ability against arguably one of the most potent attacks in world cricket and there are signs that he is beginning to fulfil some of his immense promise.

As with most big men, there is an air of the bully about his batting but, like Inzy before him, it is complimented by sublime grace and aesthetic pleasure. His international stats might be in their embryonic stage but a test average of over fifty prior to his efforts at McLean park suggest that he can continue to be prolific at the very highest level.

Important too is the fact that the double century saw Ryder at the crease for over five hours, a fantastic retort to those who still harbour doubts over his fitness levels. A harsh critic could point out that he fell the ball after reaching the double ton but after over 300 deliveries at the crease he can be forgiven.

Past form suggests that there will be more for the tabloid writers to pounce upon in the coming years but New Zealand produce few batsmen of Ryder’s quality and the mouth watering prospect of Ryder and Ross Taylor forming a formidable middle order before unleashing Brendon MaCullum later on should convince the Kiwi selectors that he is well worth persevering with.