Black Caps: New Zealand great BJ Watling confirmed as new batting coach
One former New Zealand wicketkeeper has replaced another as Black Caps batting coach, with BJ Watling confirmed to succeed Luke Ronchi in the role.
Watling, 41, will replace his former teammate in early December, after Ronchi accepted an offer to leave New Zealand Cricket to become the rel="" title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/black-caps-batting-coach-luke-ronchi-to-step-down-after-india-series/LANCM4MAL5HWTPE4D5CXRC6G34/">head coach of the Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s Big Bash League.
Since retiring from international cricket after the Black Caps’ World Test Championship final win in 2021, Watling has found success as a head coach at domestic level.
His domestic achievement came initially with Wellington, then with his hometown side Northern Districts, whom he coached to the Plunket Shield title in 2025 and Super Smash victory this year.
Watling will link with the Black Caps next month, where he will support head coach Rob Walter ahead of Ronchi’s exit, before taking over for New Zealand’s four-test tour of Australia to end the year.
“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.”
As a player, Watling represented New Zealand 108 times as an international, with 75 of those being tests. As wicketkeeper-batters, only Australia’s Adam Gilchrist, India’s MS Dhoni and England’s Matt Prior have more runs at a better average than Watling’s 3790 at 37.52.
At first-class level, he made 178 appearances for more than 10,000 runs with 18 centuries.
Twice, he was involved in world record partnerships for the sixth wicket, adding 352 runs with Brendon McCullum against India in 2014, and then beating that mark by putting on an unbeaten 365 with Kane Williamson against Sri Lanka a year later.
Most tellingly, of Watling’s eight test centuries, none came in defeat.
However, Watling also faces a significant challenge in guiding the Black Caps’ batting ranks through a transition period, with only one player of New Zealand’s first-choice test top six aged under 30.
“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,” said former teammate and current test captain Tom Latham.
“There was never any doubt about his effort and determination every time he stepped on to the field, and I’m sure that same attitude will translate in his coaching style.”
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.