Playing for keeps
Ronchi back as top ODI gloveman
At least one question was answered by New Zealand’s selectors: they rate Luke Ronchi their No 1 gloveman in one-day international cricket.
The latest handover from test incumbent BJ Watling to Ronchi confirmed another current phenomenon: it’s easier to play your way out of this Black Caps ODI wicketkeeping spot than in.
After playing five ODIS in India and Australia, Watling was politely shown the door and the more dynamic Ronchi ushered back for the Boxing Day first ODI against Bangladesh in Christchurch. Ronchi was dropped after scoring seven runs in three innings in India.
The 35-year-old was informed of his recall before blasting an unbeaten 58 off 31 balls for Wellington against Canterbury’s Twenty20 bowlers on Thursday, a welcome sight for coach and chief selector Mike Hesson.
‘‘At our last [selection] meeting we reconfirmed that Luke is certainly our best ODI keeper and also provides leadership in the field which is vital,’’ Hesson said.
Watling was originally picked to create more options in the ODI set-up, Hesson said. Clearly he didn’t offer enough spark behind the stumps in Australia as a timid New Zealand side were dominated 3-0, and paid the price along with batsman Henry Nicholls.
Batting was a worry for both senior glovemen. Watling walked out in three different positions in Australia and struggled to get going, while Ronchi’s ODI form has been very lean with 11 singlefigure innings in his last 15.
Sure enough on return from India, Ronchi cracked 119 not out in his first Plunket Shield knock for Wellington, and his Firebirds coach Bruce Edgar declared him the best test No 5 in the country. Hesson said Ronchi’s ODI form without a half-century since his stunning 170 not out against Sri Lanka in January 2015 - wasn’t a concern.
‘‘In white ball and red ball in domestic cricket he scores a lot of runs. We know that when Luke is playing well he’s as good as anyone going around. A lot of that is confidence, a lot of that is the fact he’s been on the road a long time and potentially needed a bit of a break from the group as well,’’ Hesson said.
Then there’s the strong crop of up-and-coming glovemen: Wellington’s Tom Blundell, Northern’s Tim Seifert, Canterbury’s Cameron Fletcher, Central’s Dane Cleaver and Auckland’s Glenn Phillips who started the Twenty20 competition with a rush.
Blundell tops that list of contenders
after his New Zealand A selection and solid batting form, but wasn’t considered due to a minor shoulder injury. Hesson said the others were still learning their craft.
‘‘After the Champions Trophy [in the UK in June] we’ve got potentially 45 ODIS before the 2019 World Cup so we’ve got plenty of time to make sure we know who our next best is. We’re still watching those guys pretty closely.’’
Still, Hesson wouldn’t assure Ronchi of his spot through the home summer, with three ODIS against Bangladesh, three against Australia and five against South Africa before they pick their Champions Trophy squad.
‘‘I don’t think that’s a lockdown. We are certainly lacking experience in our group, a lot who have played less than 20 ODIS. Tom Latham who’s 24 is one of our senior players. We’ve got a very young side and we need to balance that out with guys who’ve got experience.’’
That lack of experience was bolstered by batsman Neil Broom who at 33 will play his first ODI since March 2010 at No 4, for the absent Ross Taylor (eye surgery).
Broom was sounded out, and extricated himself midway through a two-year English county deal with Derbyshire which had seemingly ended his chances of adding to his 22 ODIS.
The Otago man averaged 85 in last season’s Ford Trophy competition.
‘‘He’s a very talented player. When he played for New Zealand last time people look at his numbers [averaging 17.5] but was used often at No 7 in that finishing role,’’ Hesson said.