The burly Wellington left-hander said he would reassess his self-imposed exile after Christmas but his body language yesterday suggested he might need a longer break.
His batting has always had a devil-may-care streak but he makes up for any shortcomings with superb balance and fantastic hand-eye co-ordination.
And when he is at his best, his batting is exhilarating to watch.
But watching him throw his bat around during Wellington's twenty/20 match with Otago at the University Oval was not pretty.
Wellington was chasing 205 for victory and, to be fair, Ryder appeared the only player in the line-up capable of helping the visiting side steal an unlikely win.
But his punchy 37 from 28 deliveries was a long way from the type of class innings he has played in the past. He heaved and hoicked and eventually ran out of luck with a limp mistimed pull shot to midwicket.
The irony, of course, is Ryder is the leading run-scorer in the HRV Cup and has been plundering attacks in the Plunket Shield as well, with 558 runs at an average of 69.75.
His decision to restrict himself to domestic cricket is counting where it counts the most - on the scoreboard.
''There is definitely not as much pressure on me,'' Ryder said.
''Jamie [Siddons, Wellington coach] has let me prepare how I need to prepare and have the freedom to go out and play my own game. Having someone that understands me has helped a lot and everything is going pretty well at the moment.''
Everyone, it seems, is holding their breath Ryder will have a change of heart and make himself available for New Zealand again.
Whether his current - read reckless - approach to batting will work outside the New Zealand domestic scene is a moot point, because Ryder is not ready.
''At this stage I'm still taking it day by day. I'll reassess just after Christmas and see how I'm going and where I want to be in the future. But right now, I'm just happy playing for the Firebirds.''
