Luke Ronchi

Luke Ronchi (/ˈrɒŋki/ RONG-ki; born 23 April 1981) is a New Zealand-Australian cricket coach and a former cricketer. He represented both the Australia national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team in international cricket. Ronchi is the only player to have played for both Australia and New Zealand in cricketing history and was part of the New Zealand World Cup side that finished runners-up in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, after their defeat in the final to Australia. He played for Wellington in New Zealand domestic matches and has played Twenty20 matches for a range of sides. He retired from international cricket in June 2017.

Born in Dannevirke in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand, Ronchi emigrated to Perth, Western Australia, with his family at an early age. He was educated at Kent Street Senior High School. He is an aggressive batsman and fields as a wicket-keeper. He debuted for Western Australia in January 2002. After a period as second-choice wicket-keeper behind Ryan Campbell, Ronchi became Western Australia's first-choice keeper after Campbell's retirement in 2006. For a period of time between 2007 and 2009, he served as Australia's second-choice keeper behind Brad Haddin, and played several matches for Australia A.

After Haddin broke his finger during the national team's 2008 tour of the West Indies, Ronchi played one Twenty20 International (T20I) and four One-Day International (ODI) matches, and later played two further Twenty20 International matches against the touring South African team in 2009. In February 2012, Ronchi announced his intention to return to New Zealand to further his cricketing career, and signed with the Wellington cricket team the following month. He made his ODI debut for New Zealand in May 2013, becoming the first player to play for both Australia and New Zealand at international level.

Ronchi made his Test debut for New Zealand in May 2015 against England scoring 88 off 70 balls. Ronchi's first innings runs were critical in propping up New Zealand after a shaky start on an overcast morning in Leeds. New Zealand won the match in only their fifth win in England and their first in nearly 30 years on English soil.

Ronchi announced his retirement from international cricket on 21 June 2017. Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, under whom Ronchi spent most of his career playing under, described Ronchi as someone who, "embodied all that is important about the Black Caps culture. Selfless, respectful, humble and hard working."