8 Interesting facts about veteran Kiwi wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi

Luke Ronchi was New Zealand’s trusted wicketkeeper-batsman for the last few years. He a sweet timer of the ball is very well known for his brisk innings in the shorter formats of the game. He has played as a T20 specialist for the Kiwis and turned out to be a good player for them. Ronchi also represented Black Caps in Tests.

He recently announced his retirement from the international cricket but will continue to play franchise cricket. Ronchi was a safe keeper and replaced Brendon McCullum behind the stumps. The former was also a similar type of batsman and hence was recently moved up the order. He liked the role and showed his potential in the recent knock against Australia in the Champion Trophy.

Ronchi smashed 65 from 43 balls and gave New Zealand a fantastic start. This earned them a sizeable total at the end of the first innings but the rain made sure they ended with just one point on the board. The 36-year-old wicketkeeper has added flair to the dull New Zealand batting lineup.

Here are some facts about Luke Ronchi.

1. Ronchi played for two Test playing nations

Luke Ronchi is one from that rare breed of cricketers who have played for two countries. Ronchi was born in New Zealand but migrated to Australia at a very tender age. He then went on to play cricket for Western Australia before making it to the squad for the West Indies tour in 2008 after Brad Haddin suffered an injury. He made a lasting impression but his form faded and this saw him go back to his birth country, New Zealand.

2. Scored only one ODI century

He scored only one century in his international career. That century was a massive one as he thumped the Sri Lankans to all parts of the ground. He scored 170 runs in just 99 balls taking apart the Sri Lankan bowlers in a bilateral ODI series.

3. A born pinch hitter

Luke Ronchi is a born pinch hitter. He was brought into the Australian team for the same reason and then was called up by the Kiwis because of his superb strike rate and proficient wicketkeeping. He will be remembered for those hard hitting strokes he played against Sri Lanka.

4. The struggle from 2009 to 2013

Soon after making his debut for Australia, Ronchi’s form hit a slump and then he was out of contention for the international team. The bad form continued and even the selectors from Western Australia decided to leave him out. After trying for a few more years Ronchi shifted to his birth country in 2012 and soon in 2013, he received a call-up for the England tour.

5. Fourth fastest fifty for Australia in ODIs

Ronchi only played 4 ODIs for Australia but he made sure that his name entered the record books. Ronchi scored a fifty off 22 balls in the fourth ODI and became the man to score the fourth fastest fifty in the ODIs for the Aussies.

6. Mumbai Indian in the inaugural season

Ronchi is one those vintage players who played in the inaugural season of the IPL and is still around. He was drafted by MI to fill the wicketkeeping spot in the 2008 season and batted at the very top for them early on in the season. He played his last IPL game in 2009.

7. Faced the first ball for Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians is the most successful teams in the IPL having won the tournament thrice. Ronchi in the inaugural edition played the first ball for them in the IPL and that will not change for the rest of his life. His stint was however not one to be remembered as a player with them as he has never played in the IPL post-2009.

8. First player in 20 years to play for two ICC member nations

Luke Ronchi is the first player in 20 years after Kepler Wessels to have played for two ICC full nations. As mentioned, he has played for Australia in 2008 and then for New Zealand, his birth nation, 2013 onwards until retiring in 2017.