Luke Ronchi and Cameron White join Renegades and Stars in coaching roles ahead of BBL 16

Former New Zealand and Australia international Luke Ronchi has stepped into a new chapter of his coaching career, replacing Cameron White as the head coach of the Melbourne Renegades. White, meanwhile, has crossed over to take charge of the Melbourne Stars, where he will be supported by Peter Moores, who continues in his role as director of coaching.

Ronchi, a former wicketkeeper‑batter known for his aggressive strokeplay, will leave his position as New Zealand’s batting coach after six years. This marks his second major franchise assignment, having previously worked with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

He will remain with New Zealand until the conclusion of their India tour in December, but his involvement with the Renegades has already begun. Ronchi is working closely with high‑performance manager Clint McKay to finalise the appointment of assistant coaches.

McKay himself will double up as the Renegades’ bowling coach. With prior experience in similar roles for the Stars and Australia’s men’s white‑ball sides, he brings valuable expertise to the setup. Together, Ronchi and McKay are expected to recruit two additional assistant coaches to complete the backroom staff.

McKay was full of praise for Ronchi’s vision: “Luke stood out with his clear vision for how he wants our team to play and his ability to build strong relationships. He empowers players to back their skills and take ownership of their performances, which we see as a great trait for this group at the Renegades this season.”

Ronchi himself acknowledged the challenges ahead but emphasised his focus on creating a positive environment:

“The players have been through a difficult period in recent times with a lot of change so my focus will be on creating an enjoyable environment where our players can perform at their best, play an exciting brand of cricket and challenge for the title this season.”

On the other side of Melbourne, Cameron White returns to familiar territory with Stars, a club he represented during his playing days. While he enjoyed success as a Renegades player, including a BBL title, his new role at Stars signals a fresh chapter in his coaching journey.