BJ Watling has been appointed as the Black Caps’ batting coach, taking over from Luke Ronchi following the Test series against India in early December. The former wicketkeeper-batter and now Northern Districts Men’s Head Coach will join the support staff on November 16, complete a transition period alongside current incumbent Luke Ronchi, and assume the role ahead of the team’s trip to Australia for a four-Test series.
At 41, Watling will join the Black Caps’ support staff on November 16, 2026, collaborating with Ronchi during a transition phase before officially taking over the role as the team heads to Australia for a four-Test series. Ronchi has been serving as batting coach since 2020, taking over from Peter Fulton.
Watling was highly respected for his rearguard batting, particularly as a resilient lower-middle order hitter, amassing nearly 3400 Test runs as a wicketkeeper, a New Zealand record. Watling appeared in 178 First Class games for the Black Caps, Northern Districts, and Durham, concluding his career with more than 10,000 runs, 18 centuries, and 450 catches.
Since retiring from international cricket in 2021, Watling has coached New Zealand domestic sides Wellington Firebirds and Northern Districts Men, the latter of which claimed the Super Smash in 2025-26 and the Plunket Shield in 2024-25 during his tenure.
The New Zealand Herald quotes Walting saying, “I’m incredibly excited. 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.”
After New Zealand won the World Test Championship final in 2021, Watling retired from international cricket. In his playing career, he played 108 matches for the Black Caps across all formats, including 75 Tests, where he scored 3,790 runs at an average of 37.52. Remarkably, all eight of his Test centuries came in matches that New Zealand won.
