Luke Ronchi, the former New Zealand wicketkeeper, has been appointed as the New Zealand batting coach for the upcoming summer season, replacing the post left vacant by Peter Fulton in July.
Luke Ronchi is the only player to have featured in both Australia and New Zealand squads in cricketing history and was part of the New Zealand World Cup side that finished runners-up in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, after losing in the final to Australia.
Luke Ronchi: Excited To Be Given Opportunity Full Time
Born in New Zealand and brought up in Australia, he featured in 4 tests and 85 ODIs besides 33 T20Is for both teams, playing in 2008 for Australia and from 2013 to 2017 for New Zealand.
The 122 matches capped International cricketer has worked with the team regularly over the past two years including the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup campaign in England and Wales.
“I am absolutely pumped. I have really enjoyed being back with the team in recent seasons and it is exciting to be given the opportunity full-time this summer,” said Ronchi in an official statement on Wednesday.
Luke Ronchi announced his retirement from international cricket on 21 June 2017. Luke Ronchi was also recruited by Mumbai Indians in 2007 and played five matches for the franchise throughout the 2008 and 2009 tournaments.
Luke Ronchi: Looking Forward To Seeing How To Improve And Prepare Team At Highest Level
In April 2019, Luke Ronchi was also appointed as fielding as well as wicketkeeping coach for New Zealand until the end of 2019 Cricket World Cup, where New Zealand was runners up to England reaching the finals for the second successive time.
“Getting the chance to continue working with our batsmen is a great honour and I am looking forward to seeing how I can help improve their games and best prepare them to perform at the highest level,” he added.
Luke Ronchi has also been involved with Cricket Wellington’s development programs and has now joined New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead.
“It will be great to sit down with Gary and the other coaches to begin planning for what will be a busy summer with four touring teams who will all bring different challenges,” he said.
Ross Taylor who is New Zealand’s all-time leading runs scorer said Luke Ronchi had the right credentials to be successful in the role concerned.
“It has been great to have Luke back with the group in recent years and I am personally really looking forward to working with him as batting coach,” said Taylor
“He is obviously got great experience from playing and coaching around the world and I know he will bring plenty of his own ideas to the table,” the right-handed batsman added.
Luke Ronchi had finished his career with 16 First-Class centuries and 796 dismissals including all formats.