Ronchi fires but questions remain over NZ top order
One question was answered emphatically by Luke Ronchi but some other nagging ones will follow the Black Caps to Birmingham with the Champions Trophy fast approaching.
Tonight’s (9.30pm start, NZT) warmup match against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston will complete New Zealand’s preparation for their opener against Australia on the same ground three days later.
At first glance there is much work to do after the Black Caps – with six Indian Premier League players making their first appearances – were soundly beaten by India in their 50-over warmup at The Oval.
Ronchi’s 66 off 63 balls was the headline act of a poor New Zealand show with the bat; 189 all out in 38.4 overs against five quality Indian pacemen and their two gun spinners.
If the veteran wicketkeeper wasn’t already inked in as Martin Guptill’s opening partner for Australia, he surely is now.
Ronchi – along with allrounders Jimmy Neesham and Corey Anderson – had the most to gain from a selection viewpoint and he filled his job description.
‘‘It’s to be aggressive and that’s my natural way of batting,’’ Ronchi said.
‘‘If it gets us off to a flyer then brilliant but there’s also a chance of me getting out early.
‘‘Hopefully when it comes off it comes off well, and if it doesn’t then that’s my role and people understand that.
Coach Mike Hesson spoke of the need to have a dynamic opener to kick-start the innings on expected flat pitches where 300-plus totals should be the norm.
Firstly it takes the heat off Guptill to score quickly from ball one and with similar tempo batsmen Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Neil Broom to follow, it gives the innings some early momentum.
Technically Ronchi is no opener but on flat pitches his sharp eye and power through the off side make scoring look easy with the field up, if the bowling is full or wide.
‘‘It was a bit of a surprise when I first found out, but so far it’s been pretty good. I’m feeling comfortable with the way things have worked. It’s been nice to make a few runs. Obviously you’d always like to kick on but helping the team get off to a bit of a start makes a difference.’’
His opening partner in four Ireland tri-series matches, Tom Latham, sat out Sunday’s nonofficial 12 versus 12 match along with Taylor and Mitchell Mcclenaghan. Williamson said all 15 Black Caps would get game time in the warmups so the in-form Latham will return, but it would be a sudden about-face now if Ronchi isn’t thrown the gloves and opening job against Australia.
Said Ronchi of resuming his 2013 opening partnership with Guptill: ‘‘Gup’s the sort of player who can take his time or play some pretty big shots early on. It’s for both of us to play our natural games and hopefully if we can both kick off it should be pretty entertaining.’’
While Ronchi blazed away merrily and sent one pull shot soaring into the stands off Mohammed Shami, the blueprint was muddied by wickets tumbling at the other end. It may have been a noconsequence warmup match but it showed New Zealand’s alarming propensity to collapse if Guptill and Williamson miss out.
Extra bounce accounted for Guptill and Williamson; Guptill (9) getting under a lofted drive and Williamson (8) failing to keep one down off the back foot to a wide slip. Broom wafted at a wider one first ball and suddenly Ronchi was the anchor rather than the blaster.
Anderson versus Neesham was the other intriguing selection race. Anderson (13) started slowly, then flayed away and lost his leg stump before Neesham, way down at No 8 to give the IPL returnees a bat, was 46 not out.
Both allrounders are at a similar bowling level so on recent ODI batting form Neesham probably wins the No 6 spot, while Colin de Grandhomme’s bowling could earn him the other allrounder berth.
With superstar Virat Kohli 52 not out, India racked up 129-3 off 26 overs before the rain to win by 45 runs on the Duckworth-lewis method. Defending such a small target, it was hard to get a definitive line on New Zealand’s bowlers.