New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder emerged froman induced coma today, but faced "a big battle" ahead as he recoveredfrom a vicious assault, his manager Aaron Klee said.
Ryder required medical assistance to keep breathing when hewas rushed to hospital in a critical condition early on Thursday morning.
He suffered serious head and lung injuries after being attackedas he left a bar in the South Island city of Christchurch.
Two men have been charged with assault and police said theywere not looking for anyone else, although witnesses said up to four peoplewere involved in what they believed was an unprovoked attack.
"Jesse's condition has improved to the extent that heis now out of the induced coma and off the ventilator. Jesse is awake andtalking to us," Klee said.
"Naturally we are thrilled with this progress. This is onlythe start of the recovery process for Jesse and there is still a big battleahead to full health, but the progress is positive."
Witnesses said Ryder was left "shaking, vomiting and coveredin blood" after he was repeatedly punched and kicked.
Klee said Ryder had no recollection of the attack.
"He remembers getting a duck ... not much afterthat," he said, referring to Ryder's dismissal during his Wellington side'sseason-ending loss earlier in the day to Canterbury in a limited overs match.
Ryder's mother and girlfriend, who were at his bedside whenhe woke up, have described the beating as a "heinous crime".
Ryder has a well-publicised history ofalcohol-related trouble and had been drinking before the incident, but Archer saidalcohol was not an aggravating factor in the attack.