2017 ICC Champions Trophy: My Role Is To Get The Team Off To Fliers Like McCullum – Luke Ronchi

Nov 2, 2023 at 3:49 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
2017 ICC Champions Trophy: My Role Is To Get The Team Off To Fliers Like McCullum – Luke Ronchi

As Brandon Mccullum retired last year, there was a serious tension of who would play the exact same role to blast a huge score and give strength to the team in the opening slot.

But Luke Ronchi showed some class in the last clash and rain-abandoned match against Australia. He smashed three sixes and nine fours in a 43-ball 65, accompanied by Martin Guptill in getting his team off to a flier. The duo brought up the team fifty in just 6.5 overs; and given how the pitches have behaved in England so far, a flying start is vital to teams.

“When I originally started playing for New Zealand, I was opening. I’ve been tasked with the same sort of role Brendon McCullum did towards the later part of his career, getting us off to fliers.”

Acknowledging the high-risk strategy – he lived dangerously for his half-century – he said:

“It worked out well today, next game I could be out the first ball. That’s just the nature of it and people are prepared for that. When you have Kane (Williamson) at three, it obviously gives you more freedom. I have a good group of players around me which allows me to take risks.”

Shane Bond too called Ronchi impressive in his post-match column for ICC.

“It wasn’t that much of a surprise to me that he opened the innings, given Tom Latham’s injury and the way Luke had played in the warm-ups. He has opened for New Zealand in the past but hasn’t had the greatest success. Even so, with the wickets being as good as they are and with the scores racked up in the warm-ups, you would always back Luke to come up with the goods. He played well, taking on the fast bowlers and giving New Zealand some really good impetus.”

Ronchi too spoke about Australian Pacers,

“Their nature is to try and blast you out,” he said of the Australian pacers. “Of course (Josh) Hazlewood is more line, length and swing. But (Mitchell) Starc, (Pat) Cummins bowl hard and fast and try to intimidate you, so you play loose shots that way. I just think the wicket didn’t have the pace they would have liked and that made it harder for them. My approach, going hard at them and moving around the crease, also made it harder for them.”

Related Article
AUS vs NZ Match Prediction: Highest Scorer and Wicket takers, Match 27, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
AUS vs NZ Match Prediction: Highest Scorer and Wicket takers, Match 27, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Oct 28, 2023, 10:38 AM


AUS vs NZ Playing 11: Australia vs New Zealand Playing 11, Match No. 27, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
AUS vs NZ Playing 11: Australia vs New Zealand Playing 11, Match No. 27, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Oct 28, 2023, 10:38 AM


AUS vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Fantasy Cricket Tips, Head To Head, Playing XI, Batting Tricks, Pitch Report & Captaincy Picks For Match 27, ICC ODI World Cup 2023
AUS vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Fantasy Cricket Tips, Head To Head, Playing XI, Batting Tricks, Pitch Report & Captaincy Picks For Match 27, ICC ODI World Cup 2023

Oct 28, 2023, 10:38 AM


AUS vs NZ Pitch Report: Australia Vs New Zealand Pitch and Weather Report, Match No. 26, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
AUS vs NZ Pitch Report: Australia Vs New Zealand Pitch and Weather Report, Match No. 26, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Oct 28, 2023, 10:38 AM


Australia’s Indigenous Kit For 2022 T20I World Cup Revealed
Australia’s Indigenous Kit For 2022 T20I World Cup Revealed

Sep 14, 2022, 2:15 PM


Mitchell Starc Didn’t Want To Spend 22 More Weeks In A Bio-Bubble Hence Opted Out Of IPL 2022 Auctions
Mitchell Starc Didn’t Want To Spend 22 More Weeks In A Bio-Bubble Hence Opted Out Of IPL 2022 Auctions

Jan 30, 2022, 12:55 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner