Ryder dropped after late-night drinking session

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - All-rounder Jesse Ryder has been dropped from the New Zealand cricket team and fined after missing a team meeting and training session following a late night of drinking.

The aggressive left-handed batsman will miss the fourth one-day international against West Indies in Auckland on Saturday and his place in the team has been taken by Mathew Sinclair, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said in a statement on Friday.

It is the second time within 12 months the 24-year-old has faced issues after a late-night drinking session.

He punched a window in the door of a Christchurch nightclub last February and severed tendons in his hand that required surgery, ruling him out of New Zealand's tour of England in May.

"We are all disappointed that this has happened," NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said in the statement.

"Since February last year, we have witnessed encouraging signs from Jesse both on and off the park.

"These vast improvements meant Jesse was recently given more latitude in his personal decision making.

"In hindsight, this was premature. However while it is a drinking-related issue, it does not compare with last February in its severity."

NZC said Ryder had missed a team meeting on Thursday and training later in the day in Auckland after a late night of drinking in his home town of Wellington following New Zealand's seven-wicket victory in the third one-day international.