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
IND vs ENG: There Is No Glory In Failure Or Defeat – Geoffrey Boycott Slams Ben Stokes And Brendon McCullum Over Bazball Approach In India
IND vs ENG: There Is No Glory In Failure Or Defeat – Geoffrey Boycott Slams Ben Stokes And Brendon McCullum Over Bazball Approach In India

Feb 7, 2024, 2:06 PM


IND vs ENG: We Need To Come Up With Some Ways To Counter That – Brendon McCullum Opens Up On England’s Strategy To Play Jasprit Bumrah
IND vs ENG: We Need To Come Up With Some Ways To Counter That – Brendon McCullum Opens Up On England’s Strategy To Play Jasprit Bumrah

Feb 7, 2024, 10:16 AM


Brendon McCullum Delivers Worrying Update On Jack Leach’s Knee Injury Ahead Of 3rd IND vs ENG Test
Brendon McCullum Delivers Worrying Update On Jack Leach’s Knee Injury Ahead Of 3rd IND vs ENG Test

Feb 7, 2024, 9:45 AM


Created By Media, Hated By Brendon McCullum: Ben Stokes On ‘Bazball’
Created By Media, Hated By Brendon McCullum: Ben Stokes On ‘Bazball’

Jan 31, 2024, 2:26 PM


Ben Stokes Reveals Influence Of MS Dhoni And Stephen Fleming On His Partnership With Brendon McCullum
Ben Stokes Reveals Influence Of MS Dhoni And Stephen Fleming On His Partnership With Brendon McCullum

Jan 31, 2024, 12:20 PM


IND vs ENG: He Is Tough Character And Obviously Bowled Us To The Test Win – Brendon McCullum Hails Tom Hartley For His Impressive Debut
IND vs ENG: He Is Tough Character And Obviously Bowled Us To The Test Win – Brendon McCullum Hails Tom Hartley For His Impressive Debut

Jan 30, 2024, 3:47 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner