Luke Ronchi played four one-day and three T20 internationals for Australia. Photo / APN
Wellington wicketkeeper and former Australian international Luke Ronchi will captain a New Zealand XI to play England in a four-day warm-up match next week.
Ronchi is vying with BJ Watling for the wicketkeeping spot in the three test series against England. Watling showed fine form recently in South Africa scoring
back-to-back half centuries in New Zealand's second test defeat in Port Elizabeth.
Dannevirke-born Ronchi is the fifth top runscorer in the Plunket Shield this season, having scored 760 runs at an average of 69.09, including four centuries.
The New Zealand XI includes eight players who have played for the Black Caps but also reflects the next generation of New Zealand cricket says national selection manager Kim Littlejohn.
"This game gives us a great opportunity to see how these youngsters cope with playing a Test side ranked at two in the world."
