How Luke Ronchi Plans to Revive Melbourne Renegades After a Tumultuous Offseason

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-07-17

The Big Bash League coaching carousel has spun hard in Melbourne. Luke Ronchi has officially taken over as head coach of the Melbourne Renegades, replacing Cameron White. White, in turn, has moved across town to lead the Melbourne Stars. Peter Moores stays on at the Stars but shifts into a director of coaching role for the upcoming season. This shakeup comes after months of behind-the-scenes drama at both franchises. Let's break down what happened, who's involved, and what it means for the BBL. ### Ronchi's Path to the Renegades Luke Ronchi, 45, is stepping down as New Zealand's men's batting coach after six years in that role. He arrives in Melbourne fresh off a strong campaign with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where his team came close to reaching the final. He will keep working with New Zealand until their India tour ends in December, but he has already started planning the Renegades coaching staff alongside high performance manager Clint McKay, who will double as the team's bowling coach. Two more assistant coaches are still to be appointed. Ronchi's playing career is a story of two countries. He started with Western Australia and played for the Perth Scorchers in the first season of the BBL. He represented Australia in four ODIs and three T20Is before returning to New Zealand, the country of his birth. For the Black Caps, he played four Tests, 81 ODIs, and 29 T20Is. He also featured in franchise leagues around the world, including the IPL, PSL, CPL, the Blast, and the Super Smash. ### A Club Rebuilt From Scratch Ronchi's appointment follows a period of serious instability at the Renegades. Cricket Victoria, which now runs the Stars exclusively, moved former Renegades general manager James Rosengarten and former head of cricket Wade Seccombe into equivalent positions at the Stars. These changes followed a failed attempt by Cricket Australia to bring in private investment. That plan would have seen the Stars rebranded under Victoria's colors while the Renegades were sold to a private buyer. The plan collapsed after several states and the Australian Cricketers' Association rejected it. That left the Renegades without an administration for a time. The club was run by just two staff members: general manager Max Abbott and McKay. They rebuilt the club's operations from the ground up. Abbott and McKay consulted vice-captain Will Sutherland before interviewing Ronchi, former Sydney Sixers coach Greg Shipperd, and current Durham coach Ryan Campbell for the head coach role. Ronchi was chosen to bring fresh energy to a playing group that has faced repeated upheaval. "Luke stood out with his clear vision for how he wants our team to play and his ability to build strong relationships," McKay said. New Zealand captain Tom Latham also credited Ronchi's coaching for the improvement in several players under his guidance during his time with the national side. ### White Takes Over at the Stars Cameron White moves to the Stars after two seasons at the Renegades, where the team finished sixth and seventh. He previously led the San Francisco Unicorns, also run by Cricket Victoria, to the Major League Cricket playoffs. At the Stars, he will work under Moores, who coached the team for the past two seasons and now shifts into a director of coaching position. Rosengarten said the club now has multiple high-caliber coaches working within its BBL program. He added that White brings strong tactical experience and a heavy work rate to the role. ### What's Next for Both Clubs Both clubs are also searching for new WBBL coaches. Simon Helmot has left the Renegades for Gulf Giants in the ILT20, while Stars assistant Andy Christie is expected to step into a larger role this season. - Ronchi will finalize his coaching staff before the season starts. - The Renegades are still looking for two more assistant coaches. - White and Moores will work together to build a competitive Stars lineup. The BBL season is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in years. With new leadership and fresh strategies, both Melbourne teams are hoping to climb the ladder and challenge for the title.