Cricket: Luke Ronchi offers tour selectors something to ponder

New Zealand's Luke Ronchi raises his bat. Photo / AFP

Wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi has the tour selectors food for thought with a brisk century at the top of the order in New Zealand's one warmup game in India tonight.

Ronchi struck 107 off 112 balls in New Zealand's second innings 235 against Mumbai in New Delhi.

His was, by a distance, the star turn for New Zealand, who had trailed Mumbai by 140 runs on the first innings, after the Indian batsmen had taken New Zealand apart to the tune of 464 for eight declared.

Three batsmen hit centuries before the declaration, as New Zealand used nine bowlers to try and give everyone some work.

The match was drawn, with New Zealand 95 runs ahead.

Ronchi's ton is timely. With test opener Martin Guptill sorely out of form, and dismissed for a second ball duck today, to follow 15 in the first innings, Ronchi's innings will at least give coach Mike Hesson and captain Kane Williamson something to ponder.

That doesn't mean Guptill's place in the first test starting in Kanpur on Thursday, is in jeopardy, but it does show there are options should the tall Aucklander miss out in the first test.

Ronchi has played just one test, but cashed in against England at Leeds last year with a double of 88 and 31.

New Zealand's three specialist spinners, leggie Ish Sodhi (two for 132), offspinner Mark Craig (one for 82) and left armer Mitch Santner (one for 71) combined for figures of four for 285 off 64 overs.

The pitch served up for the match bore little relation to what the New Zealanders are expecting, certainly in Kanpur - that is, a pitch to help the spinners, making the performances of New Zealand's trio of special interest.