Top cricket star Jesse Ryder battles for life

HR manager Emma-Louise Ferguson saw the attack and said it was unbelievably “brutal”.

“They were just punching him, they had him on the ground and they were kicking him hard,” she said. “It was unbelievably brutal. They were kicking him as hard as they could.”

Another witness, Regan Harvey, said the incident was a “Jesse-hate fight”.

“As far as I can tell Jesse has done nothing wrong here,” he said. “It was completely unprovoked.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Archer said police were examining closed-circuit video footage of the incident but had not identified the men. He said: “Jesse remains in intensive care in a critical condition in an induced coma after suffering multiple injuries.

“A brief altercation has taken place outside Aikman’s involving Jesse and a group of at least two other males. A second altercation has taken place at the entrance to the McDonald’s car park, involving one of the males from the earlier group.”

There are thought to be up to 10 witnesses to the attack.

Manager of the bar, Steve Holmes, claimed that the mother of one of the attackers was there when it happened and that the men tried to get back into the bar but were blocked by staff.

New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association chief executive Heath Mills, who flew to Christchurch to be with the player, confirmed Ryder had started drinking again and that the player had been “having a few drinks with his team-mates at the conclusion of the season”.

“Jesse has been fighting some demons over the last few years and he has struggled with them,” added Mills.

In 2008, Ryder needed stitches in his hand after he punched a window in a bar and he was out of action for seven months.

He has also been in trouble for turning up to training still recovering from a heavy drinking session and was reprimanded last year after he and fellow international Doug Bracewell were involved in a slanging match with drinkers in Napier.

Following the incident, Ryder voluntarily stood down from international selection to tackle alcohol, fitness and personal problems.

Messages of support flooded in from cricketers around the world. New Zealand prime minister John Key said: “It sounds quite sinister to me. The assault seems extremely vicious.”

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said: “We are all shocked and extremely concerned for Jesse.”

Players’ chief Mills added: “The cricket community is very shocked. It’s a sad day for us. A number of players around the country are in shock, our focus now is on Jesse and his wellbeing.”

England spinner Graeme Swann tweeted: “Shocking news about Jesse, fingers crossed for a full and speedy recovery for the big man.”

The New Zealand team’s Twitter page said “The whole NZC team’s thoughts are with [Jesse] this morning.”

West Indies star Chris Gayle tweeted: “Will have Jesse in my prayer. Pray for Jesse. Let’s hope he gets better soon.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: “Devastating news regarding Jesse Ryder. Just hope he can pull through.”