Luke 'Benedict Arnold' Ronchi poised to play for NZ
 

Features : Brydon Coverdale talks to Luke Ronchi, who hopes to play for New Zealand | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

How unseemly.

Think "poised to" is overstating the case slightly. NZ might decide to give him a swerve completely. Keen as they are on converted Saffers/Aussies, none of the imports to have made the full Black Caps sides had already played full internationals for another test nation.

Wonder who the last player to do so was, actually? Wessells would be my guess.

He would still have to push his way past KVW, Watling, De Boorder and Tom Latham. I'd like to see one of those 4 following a top 6 of:

Rutherford (gamble but a leftie who can score big)
Guptill
Williamson
Taylor
McCullum (to be a swashbuckling senior pro at no 5 - ala Astle/McMillan)
Ryder

1. McCullum
2. Guptill
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Ryder
6. Flynn/Broom/Franklin
7. Ronchi+

Would be interesting to see how that batting lineup would go.

They'd go like most NZ batting line ups I'd say - quickly.

Kiwi's really that desperate to cap a 31 year old Aussie looking for a couple of international games before he retires?

So dire how one can just switch countries to get a couple of games under their belt. I have no problems with the players themselves wanting to do it, I understand they want to further their careers, but it just feels wrong.

Have you seen New Zealand's win/loss record over the past 4 years?

Top 6 looks good :ph34r:

(replace Broom with Brownlie though)

Fail to see where NZ are playing in that game?

Ronchi should make NZ's shorter format teams. Reckon he'd be a success especially at home playing on some of those smaller grounds and it wouldn't be the worst idea having an experienced campaigner like him in the team with the next World Cup obviously being in Australia.

I wouldn't pick him for Test Cricket though. He is capable, but so is Van Wyk.

Can't blame them for drop in pitches playing 2nd fiddle to rugby. Almost remind me of Australia's poaching of Kiwi's in the rugby but at least if you poach poach a 20 something year old not a 31 year old has been. Leave that to us and our selection policies...

Ronchi will have to score truckloads to get in the mix. He's got Ryder/Taylor/Williamson/Guptill/McCullum and probably Franklin ahead of him at this stage. Unless Brendon doesn't want the gloves, then he's a good chance - Watling isn't really a ODI option despite continued selection.

NZ do not need batsman they need a better bowling attack