New Delhi .New Zealand has made changes in the support staff of the men's cricket team and appointed former wicketkeeper batsman BJ Watling as the new batting coach. Watling will replace the current batting coach Luke Ronchi. Ronchi will continue to fulfill his responsibilities until the Test series against India ends in early December. After this, Watling will completely take over the role of batting coach in the New Zealand team.

The 41-year-old Watling will join the team from November 16 and will work with Ronchi in the initial phase. This period will be for transfer of responsibilities between the two. After this, Watling will be fully active in his new role as batting coach from New Zealand's tour to Australia. New Zealand has to play a four-match Test series in Australia and this tour will be the formal beginning of his new responsibility.

Watling's international cricket career ended in 2021. He played 75 Tests, 28 ODIs and five T20 Internationals for New Zealand. He scored a total of 4401 runs in these matches. He has eight centuries and 24 half-centuries to his name in international cricket. Having been a part of the New Zealand team for a long time as a wicketkeeper batsman, he has a good understanding of the team environment and dressing room.

Apart from international cricket, Watling also had a long first-class cricket career. He played a total of 178 first-class matches for New Zealand, Northern Districts and Durham. During this period he scored 10034 runs with the help of 18 centuries. He also has 450 catches in his name as a wicketkeeper. Now he will share his sporting experience with the New Zealand batsmen and contribute to improving the team's batting.

After retiring from international cricket, Watling took coaching as the next step in his career. He served with the Wellington Firebirds and Northern Districts. His tenure as head coach of Northern Districts was particularly successful. Under his coaching, the team won the Plunket Shield in 2024-25 and the Super Smash title in 2025-26. After his recent achievements, he has been given a bigger responsibility in the support staff of the national team.

On receiving the new responsibility, Watling described it as a special opportunity to rejoin the team. He praised the achievements of the team and support staff over the past few years and expressed his excitement about contributing with a world-class team. New Zealand's Chief High Performance Officer Darryl Gibson also supported his appointment and said Watling had proven himself as a coach in recent years. He also has good relations with many current players.

New Zealand's Test captain Tom Latham also welcomed Watling's return. According to him, Watling had completely adopted the identity of the Black Caps during his playing days. Recalling his passion, hard work and commitment, Latham said that the same qualities will now be visible in his coaching as well. Ronchi will handle the responsibility till the Test series against India, while after this, Watling will be seen in a new role from the four-Test series against Australia.