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New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has appointed former wicketkeeper-batter BJ Watling as their new batting coach. Watling will take over the role after Luke Ronchi's contract comes to an end with the competition of Test series against India in November-December 2026. Watling, a member of New Zealand's inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-winning squad will return to the setup five years after retiring from international cricket.
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Watling's first assignment as batting coach will be the four-Test series on Australian soil starting December 9. However, as per NZC's release on October 7, the transition will begin in November itself during the two-Test series against India. The 41-year-old will join the side on November 16, just before the first Test against India.
Before taking a role in New Zealand's senior squad, he has coached New Zealand's domestic teams Wellington Firebirds and Northern Districts. He helped Northern Districts win the 2024-25 Plunket Shield and Super Smash 2025-26.
"I'm incredibly excited," Watling said. "To come back into the team and work with this current group is a special opportunity and one I don't take lightly. What this side and the support staff have achieved together over recent years has been remarkable, so I'm looking forward to contributing to a world-class side."
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Watling’s career as a player
Watling brings heaps of first-class cricket experience with himself. He represented New Zealand in 75 Tests, 28 ODIs and five T20Is. He made his Test and T20I debuts in 2009 and ODI debut in the year after. He scored just 38 runs from four T20I innings at a strike rate of 65.51. He scored 573 runs from 25 innings featuring five half-centuries. But, his strike rate wasn't meant for white-ball cricket.
He eventually found his niche in red-ball cricket. From 117 innings, he scored 3,790 runs at an average of 37.52 including eight tons and 19 fifties. He often rescued his side from tough situations. Also, he was brilliant with the gloves behind the wicket, taking 267 catches and pulling off eight stumpings.
In first-class cricket, he has 10,034 runs from 178 games at an average of 38.44 featuring 18 tons and 59 fifties. The last time he played competitive cricket was in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021 final against India.
Kiwi captain on Watling’s appointment
New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham is excited to work with his former teammate Watling.
"BJ is a guy who personified what it means to be a Black Cap, so having someone like him come back into the group will be great for our environment," Latham said.
"There was never any doubt about his effort and determination every time he stepped onto the field, and I'm sure that same attitude will translate in his coaching style."
Why is Ronchi leaving?
Ronchi took over as New Zealand batting coach towards the end of 2020. He had earlier served as fielding and wicketkeeping coach. After six years, he is leaving the New Zealand coaching stuff to take up franchise cricket role. In the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 2026, he will coach Melbourne Renegades led by Will Sutherland. Renegades haven't won the BBL since the 2018-19 season.
Will New Zealand reach WTC final again?
The inaugural edition’s champions haven’t made it to the final in the last two editions. They finished sixth and four in WTC 2021-23 and WTC 2023-25 editions respectively.
In the ongoing season, New Zealand are placed third on the table with 72.22 win percentage. The Latham-led side has won four out of six Tests, drawn one and lost one.
Watling will join the Kiwi dressing room days ahead of the two-Test series against Shubman Gill-led India. India have not won a Test series in New Zealand since 2009. They did not win a single Test in their last two tours of New Zealand. The current Indian side is inexperienced in terms of their exposure to New Zealand conditions which automatically gives the hosts an upper hand.
After taking on India, the BlackCaps will tour Australia for a four-Test series. Australia’s batting is in a rebuilding phase which will be a plus point for the touring side. The last time New Zealand toured Australia for a Test series was in 2019-20. They didn't win a single Test. In fact, New Zealand have not won a single Test series against Australia (away or home) since the only Test in March 1990.
Watling’s white-ball challenge
With Watling as batting coach, New Zealand's first white-ball series will be against Sri Lanka at home. Sri Lanka will tour New Zealand for three ODIs, three T20Is followed by two Tests.
Watling did not excel as a white-ball batter. It will be interesting to see how he helps them navigate different conditions.
With Ronchi in the coaching staff, New Zealand made T20 World Cup 2021 final, ICC Champions Trophy final and T20 World Cup 2026 final. They lost the final to Australia five years ago. For the last two times, they have lost in the final to India.
New Zealand haven’t won a multi-team tournament since the ICC Champions Trophy 2000. The next major ICC tournament for Watling as a white-ball coach will be the ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. New Zealand have been placed in Group B alongside hosts South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and England. One of the teams in the Group B and A will be finalised via qualifiers.
Additions to women's coaching staff for Australia tour
Meanwhile, New Zealand have roped in former pacer Andrew Adams and former opener Martin Guptill as the women's team interim head coach Dean Brownlie for the upcoming T20I series against Australia. Guptill will serve as batting and fielding coach in the absence of Craig McMillan who recently had a back surgery. Adams has been in White Ferns' coaching staff before as well. He has also coached Otago Vols and The Women's Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix.
The three-T20I series will begin on October 18 and end on October 22. The T20I series will be played in North Sydney. Before the series, the visitors will play a warm-up match against Governor-General's XI on October 15.
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