Jesse Ryder's return to international cricket has suffered a setback and he'll undergo abdominal surgery next week.
Ryder's been off the scene since late September, when he tore an abdominal muscle during an innings of 74 off 58 balls for New Zealand against Sri Lanka at the Champions Trophy in South Africa.
The New Zealand team physiotherapist Kate Stalker says the injury hasn't responded to treatment as they'd hoped, and specialists have recommended Ryder have surgery to reinforce his abdominal wall.
The Black Caps coach Mark Greatbatch says Ryder's disappointed but realises surgery is the best step forward.
He says Ryder will have to undergo extensive fitness testing and prove himself fully fit in domestic first class cricket before a return to international cricket can be contemplated.
