Ryder's return: Cricketer's amazing comeback from a coma

"I keep everyone on their toes," says Jesse Ryder.

Bowlers, scorers, cover fielders, captains, coaches, cricket writers, club bouncers, gossip columnists, toxicologists, neurologists… Know anyone with toes? Then add them to the list.

It was only a few months ago Ryder wondered if he'd ever have much use for his own toes again. The New Zealand batsman was trussed up in a Christchurch hospital, tubes emanating from every orifice: sore head, memory shot, no clue why.

"The first thing I was seeing everyone standing around my bed," says Ryder, who was bashed into a 56-hour coma outside a Christchurch bar in March. , external

"It was a bit of a surprise to be honest. The first thing I thought was: 'I've got to catch my flight to India for the IPL.'"

The Delhi Daredevils had to do without him because Ryder never made that flight. The big man with the big bat had more pressing things on his brain, quite literally, in the case of a busted skull. There was also a damaged lung. And he had to learn how to walk again.

"It didn't look good," says the 29-year-old.

Back at home in Wellington, a trip to the bathroom was akin to scaling the foothills of Everest.

"My balance was well off," he says. "I'd get light-headed, I couldn't catch my breath. When you're struggling to get off the couch, holding onto stuff just to get to the toilet, you think: 'How long is this going to last">