Ronchi finds a way to combat Indian’s potent spin threat
Just because Luke Ronchi has always relished facing spin bowling, doesn’t mean he has always been good at it.
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson raised some eyebrows before the test series in India when he revealed Ronchi had been selected not only as a back-up wicketkeeper, but a specialist batting option.
Those eyebrows were lowered after the first match in Kanpur finished on Monday.
Alongside young spin bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner, the 35-year-old New Zealand-born former Australian international was one of the Black Caps’ two standout performers in a disappointing 197-run defeat to start the three-match series.
Ronchi hit 38 before a contentious lbw decision in the first innings and smoked a game-high 80 in the second, looking assured against Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja on a pitch offering the world-class spin duo all kinds of assistance.
Rather than natural talent, which his balance and footwork undoubtedly proves he has, Ronchi credited his success against spin to his first trip to India 15 years ago as an Australian Cricket Academy member with coach and former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh.
‘‘I always enjoyed [playing spin] but it is something I’ve worked on over my whole career,’’ he said. ‘‘I certainly wasn’t the same player then as I am now. I went over there trying to cut, pull and do all sorts, which here is a lot harder to do.
‘‘That was my first experience batting and keeping on these wickets and see the different ways people played it. From then on you’re just trying to evolve and learn new ways of playing spin.’’
The 35-year-old Dannevirkeborn keeper-batsman has certainly settled on a style that works, and had his team-mates coming to him for advice.
Coming in at No 5, Ronchi wasted little time making his intent clear in both innings, and by match-end had struck 15 boundaries and one towering six off Ashwin, who had taken 10 wickets in the match.
Ronchi reckoned it was a combination of factors which contributed to his success in conditions where spin had taken 26 of the 35 wickets to fall in the match.
‘‘My mindset is pretty much to try and get off strike as much as possible,’’ he said.
‘‘I just try and hit gaps and get off strike and keep it as simple as I possibly can.
‘‘Sometimes if the field is in a bit more I try to [hit boundaries], just so they’ll push the field back and I’ve got single options, but I’m more of an aggressive batsman anyway.
‘‘If I get in the mindset of trying not to get out, I’ll get out. If I’m being positive my feet will move better, I’ll hit the ball better, and where I need to.’’
What mattered most, though, was that his ability to play spin well had earned him more test cricket.
It had looked like he may finish his career with one test to his name, a win in England last June where he scored a vital 88 and 31 before missing selection for New Zealand’s next red-ball international against Australia in November.
But a tour to India and a specialty for spin ensured that wasn’t the case, and he was optimistic there was more to come.
‘‘I always hoped to play and it is just the way it has all worked out really.
‘‘It’s fantastic to get another test match, to help out and get some runs.
‘‘Hopefully I can do it again in the next one.’’