Former international wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi has been named the New Zealand team’s new batting coach, replacing former Test batsman Peter Fulton who stepped down to become head coach of first class side Canterbury.
Ronchi, who finished his international cricket career with New Zealand in 2017, had been working with the national team for the last two years concentrating on fielding and helping with the wicketkeepers. Fulton stepped down in July after about a year with the national team, having succeeded long-time batting coach Craig McMillan.
“I’m absolutely pumped,” Ronchi said of his appointment, which begins in two weeks ahead of New Zealand’s series against West Indies. “I’ve really enjoyed being back with the team in recent seasons and it’s exciting to be given the opportunity full-time this summer. Getting the chance to continue working with our batsmen is a great honour and I’m looking forward to seeing how I can help improve their games and best prepare them to perform at the highest level.”
The 39-year-old Ronchi was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia as a child and played for his adopted country from 2008-2009. He returned to New Zealand in 2012 and was brought into the national squad the following year.
He played mostly limited overs matches for New Zealand, including at the 2015 World Cup and made his Test debut later that year before he played three further Tests in India in 2016. Ronchi retired from international cricket in 2017 but had been playing in various Twenty20 leagues around the world until earlier this year. New Zealand host West Indies in three Twenty20 matches from Nov. 27 before a two-Test series begins on Dec. 3. 
Pakistan then visit for T20Is and Test matches with Australia and Bangladesh slated to tour next year although those series are still awaiting government approval.
NZ facing injury concerns ahead of Windies series
New Zealand cricket coach Gary Stead will be anxiously awaiting the outcome of medical checks over the next week with six of his players nursing injuries as they prepare to face West Indies later this month.
Stead’s side face the tourists, who are in isolation in a bio-secure facility in Christchurch for the next 10 days, in three Twenty20 internationals starting on Nov. 27 before a two-Test series begins on Dec. 3.
Stead’s biggest concern is with his bowling unit. Pace spearhead Tim Southee (back), fellow pace bowlers Neil Wagner (groin/hip) and Matt Henry (broken thumb), and first-choice Test spinner Ajaz Patel (calf) are all under a cloud.
All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme has foot injury while middle-order batsman Henry Nicholls has a calf strain. “Injuries are always a concern and we’re certainly monitoring each case closely with our medical staff,” Stead said in a statement yesterday.
Southee’s injury is not considered too serious and he was rested from Northern Districts’ first-class match against Canterbury starting today  as a precaution. He is likely to be available for the match against Central Districts next week but teammate Wagner has to undergo a scan.
De Grandhomme also has to undergo a scan, with the results expected today. Patel’s recovery is taking longer than expected and he needs to have another scan, Stead said. Nicholls is expected to be available for Canterbury’s clash with Otago next week, although teammate Henry is out for between four to six weeks, making him unlikely for the Twenty20 series and a doubt for the Tests.