Inside the Big Bash Shake-Up: Ronchi and White Swap Coaching Roles

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-07-17

The Big Bash League is seeing a major coaching reshuffle as two of its Melbourne franchises swap leaders. Luke Ronchi has taken over as head coach of the Melbourne Renegades, replacing Cameron White, who is moving across town to lead the Melbourne Stars. Peter Moores will stay with the Stars in a new director of coaching role for the upcoming season. This shake-up comes after a period of serious instability for both clubs, and it could reshape how they approach the next BBL campaign. Let's break down what this means for the teams and the league. ### Ronchi's Big Move to the Renegades Luke Ronchi, 45, is stepping down from his role as New Zealand's men's batting coach after six years. He's coming off a strong run with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, where his team came close to reaching the final. Ronchi will keep working with New Zealand until their India tour ends in December, but he's already started planning the Renegades' coaching staff alongside high performance manager Clint McKay, who will also serve as bowling coach. Two more assistant coaches are still to be hired. "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 praised Ronchi's coaching, crediting him for helping several players improve during his time with the national side. ### Behind the Scenes: The Renegades' Rebuild Ronchi's appointment follows months of turmoil at the two Melbourne franchises. Cricket Victoria, which now runs the Stars exclusively, moved former Renegades general manager James Rosengarten and former head of cricket Wade Seccombe into similar roles at the Stars. These changes came after a failed attempt by Cricket Australia to bring in private investment. The plan would have seen the Stars rebranded under Victoria's colors while the Renegades were sold to a private buyer. But several states and the Australian Cricketers' Association rejected it. That left the Renegades without an administration for a while, run by just two staff members: general manager Max Abbott and McKay. They rebuilt the club's operations from scratch. 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. Here's a quick look at the key changes: - Luke Ronchi takes over as Renegades head coach - Cameron White moves to Stars as head coach - Peter Moores shifts to director of coaching at Stars - Clint McKay becomes Renegades bowling coach - Two more assistant coaches still to be named for Renegades ### A Playing Career That Spans Two Countries Ronchi has a unique background. He played for the Perth Scorchers in the first season of the BBL after a long career with Western Australia. He represented Australia in four ODIs and three T20Is before returning to New Zealand, the country of his birth. There, he played four Tests, 81 ODIs, and 29 T20Is for the Black Caps. He also featured in franchise leagues around the world, including the IPL, PSL, CPL, the Blast, and the Super Smash. ### White Takes Over at Stars Alongside Moores 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 teams 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. This coaching overhaul could be exactly what both franchises need to bounce back. The Renegades have struggled in recent seasons, and the Stars have been inconsistent. With fresh leadership and new strategies, fans might see a very different BBL campaign ahead.