New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder in coma after brawl

New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder is in hospital with serious head injuries after being involved in a fight in Christchurch.

A Christchurch Hospital spokesperson told local media that Ryder was in intensive care with a fractured skull. Calls to the hospital were not immediately returned.

New Zealand Police said they were investigating an incident at a bar in Merivale, a suburb of Christchurch, early on Thursday and that Ryder had been involved.

Ryder, 28, had left the bar with a group of people when he became involved in the incident, police said in a statement.

Police were called at 12:44 a.m. local time (1144 GMT) and Ryder was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

Jesse Ryder

"We are piecing together what took place and speaking to witnesses to understand how this incident unfolded," Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Archer said in the statement.

"I would ask anyone who witnessed the incident or were part of the group involved with Mr Ryder to contact police."

Ryder was in Christchurch playing for Wellington against Canterbury in the semi-final of New Zealand's domestic one-day competition on Wednesday.

An eye witness told New Zealand's Fairfax Media that the cricketer had been punched and kicked by at least four men.

"We are all shocked by what has occurred and extremely concerned for Jesse," New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said in a statement. "New Zealand Cricket's thoughts are with him and his family."

Ryder's manager Aaron Klee, Cricket Wellington chief executive Peter Clinton and New Zealand Cricket Players' Association head Heath Mills were all travelling to Christchurch, NZC said.

Radio New Zealand reported on its website (www.radionz.co.nz) that Ryder was in a coma and had a collapsed lung, without naming sources.

The bar's manager said Ryder had been at the venue with his Wellington team mates, the report added.

Wellington Cricket CEO Peter Clinton declined to comment on the incident or Ryder's condition when contacted by phone by Reuters, but said police and cricket officials would hold a media conference later on Thursday. 

Klee did not immediately return calls, but he wrote on his Twitter page: "thanks for the calls and msgs of support for Jesse. Just heading to Chch to see him".