BLACKCAPS wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi says he has enjoyed “the best seat in the house” as the bowling attack has ripped through sides in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 on home soil.
The 33-year-old said the bowling unit, led by Tim Southee, Trent Boult (13 each) and Daniel Vettori (12) who are the leading wicket takers in the tournament, has been awesome to watch.
Ronchi, who has played 45 ODIs for New Zealand, said the ability across the bowling attack to take wickets and turn matches is the most pleasing part.
“Every game it’s sort of one particular bowler that seems to be doing really well,” said Ronchi to the media scrum.
“It’s not the one guy carrying everyone, so it’s been awesome to stand behind watching them swinging the ball.
“It’s probably the most consistent bowling attack I’ve kept to in terms of keeping the same side and everyone bowling well - and bowling teams out for low scores.”
Ronchi said the consistency and self-belief in the bowling unit has grown with every match.
He said the fact that Southee and Boult are both test bowlers and one-day bowlers, means they work well together and know how to complement each other.
Ronchi believed that Vettori, who brought up 300 ODI wickets in Napier on the weekend, is the ideal man with his experience to balance the attack.
“Keeping with Dan is always good fun,” Ronchi said.
“You can see he’s trying to work the batsman out and he does a pretty good job of it. Dan doesn’t turn it as much as he used to – that’s a good thing for me; I don’t have to worry about it quite as much. It’s pretty cool to be behind and in the best seat in the house to watch it unfold.”
Ronchi had an explosive summer with the bat leading into the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
He notched up his career best score with an incredible 170 not out against Sri Lanka in Dunedin only a few days after he delivered a whirlwind cameo in Nelson to get the BLACKCAPS home.
The home side needed 51 off 36 balls to defeat Sri Lanka at Saxton Oval and the No.7 smashed an unbeaten 32 from 15 balls to show his finishing quality.
With the BLACKCAPS bowling teams out for low totals, Ronchi has not been required to bat as much in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
His unbeaten 29 off 19 balls in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka is his biggest contribution but he’s comfortable with that.
“That’s a good thing. If I’m not batting, then we’re doing really well, so I’m not complaining at all.
“I still hit them in the nets and am enjoying that stuff. I’m more than happy to sit on my bum for as long as I need to.”
The BLACKCAPS’ build up to Bangladesh has been affected by a gastro virus that has had Daniel Vettori, Grant Elliott and Kane Williamson laid low by the bug.
Vettori and Elliott returned to take part in training yesterday while Williamson, who picked up the virus later on, spent another day in bed to recover.
Ronchi believed that the mainstay of the BLACKCAPS batting line-up will be fit and ready to play Bangladesh who is full of confidence after defeating England by 15 runs in Adelaide.
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be right when we play on Friday.”
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: BLACKCAPS v Bangladesh, 2pm Seddon Park, Hamilton
