Former international wicketkeeper-batter Luke Ronchi will step down as New Zealand men's batting coach to become the head coach of the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League. The 45-year-old will leave New Zealand Cricket after six years to take up his second major franchise coaching role.
Luke Ronchi will continue working with the Black Caps through the upcoming home series against India, which ends in early December. He will then join the Renegades, a franchise that has undergone major coaching changes in recent months after former head coach Cameron White left to join the Melbourne Stars.
Luke Ronchi to Leave New Zealand Coaching Role After India Series
Luke Ronchi became New Zealand's full-time batting coach in 2020. During his tenure, New Zealand won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021 and reached the Men's T20 World Cup finals in 2021 and 2026.
Ronchi was also part of the coaching staff during New Zealand's historic 3-0 Test series win in India in 2024, the 2025 Champions Trophy final, and the recent 2-1 Test series victory in England. Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket confirmed it will announce Ronchi's replacement in due course.
Ronchi expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with New Zealand's players and coaching staff over the past six years. The former cricketer said that he was proud to be part of several memorable moments and wished the team continued success after his departure.
"Coming back to the national set-up has been a dream come true for me, and I’m immensely grateful to my fellow coaches and the players for the opportunity to work alongside them for all these years."
"It has always been my goal to try and help this team and the batters perform at the highest level and, reflecting back, there have been some pretty memorable moments that I’m proud to have been part of. I’ll be watching very closely and wish everyone all the very best with what’s to come in the future."
He’s Such A Valued Member Of This Group - Tom Latham on Luke Ronchi
New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham praised Luke Ronchi's contribution, saying he played a key role in building the team's culture and helping players improve. Latham added that Ronchi's hard work and commitment made him one of the most respected members of the dressing room.
"He’s such a valued member of this group, certainly when he was playing but also after he transitioned into the coaching space too, so it’s disappointing to be losing a guy like Ronchs. He’s someone who understands the environment and culture of this group and is a huge driver of that."
"I think you could talk to most guys, and they’d agree everyone’s game has gone from strength to strength under his guidance. He’s always been someone who’s worked incredibly hard for the team, and that effort shows out in the middle. We’ll miss him, but we obviously wish him all the best for what he’s got coming up."
Luke Ronchi Faces Major Rebuild at Melbourne Renegades
Cricket Victoria recently moved former Renegades coach Cameron White to the Melbourne Stars, while Peter Moores took on a director of coaching role despite having a year remaining on his contract.
Cricket Australia's attempt to attract private investment into the Big Bash League failed. The Renegades' plans to sell the franchise also stalled after several state associations and the Australian Cricketers' Association opposed the proposed privatization model, leaving the club in administrative limbo.
Ronchi brings extensive experience to the role. He played in the inaugural BBL season for the Perth Scorchers and represented both Australia and New Zealand at the international level. He also guided Islamabad United to the PSL eliminator in 2026 during his first major franchise coaching assignment.
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