Melbourne Renegades and Stars Shake Up Coaching Staff in Major BBL Overhaul

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-07-17

The Big Bash League (BBL) is seeing a major coaching shake-up in Melbourne, with Luke Ronchi taking over as head coach of the Melbourne Renegades and Cameron White moving across town to lead the Melbourne Stars. This isn't just a simple swap of coaches. It's a sign of deeper changes happening behind the scenes at both franchises, following months of uncertainty and a failed attempt to bring in private investment. Peter Moores will stay on with the Stars but in a new role as director of coaching, adding another layer to this restructured setup. ### Ronchi's Move to Renegades: A Fresh Start Luke Ronchi, who's 45, is stepping down as New Zealand's men's batting coach after six years in that role. He's coming off a strong season with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where his team nearly made the final. He'll keep working with New Zealand until their tour of India ends in December, but he's already started planning the Renegades' coaching staff alongside high-performance manager Clint McKay, who will also serve as the bowling coach. Two more assistant coaches are still to be hired, so there's more news to come on that front. Ronchi's appointment comes after a turbulent period for 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 similar roles at the Stars. These changes followed a failed attempt by Cricket Australia to bring in private investment, which would have seen the Stars rebranded under Victoria's colors and the Renegades 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 while, run by just two staff members: general manager Max Abbott and McKay, who 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. "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. ### A Look at Ronchi's Playing Career Ronchi has a unique playing career that spans both Australia and New Zealand. He played for the Perth Scorchers in the first season of the BBL after a long career with Western Australia, representing Australia in four One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). He later returned to New Zealand, the country of his birth, and played four Tests, 81 ODIs, and 29 T20Is for the Black Caps. He also featured in franchise leagues around the world, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), PSL, Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the Blast, and the Super Smash. - **Key stats from his international career:** - Tests: 4 matches, 282 runs at an average of 40.28 - ODIs: 81 matches, 1,389 runs at an average of 22.04 - T20Is: 29 matches, 457 runs at a strike rate of 138.90 These numbers show he was a solid contributor, especially in the shorter formats, which is where he made his mark as a wicketkeeper-batsman. ### 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'll work under Peter 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, adding that White brings strong tactical experience and a heavy work rate to the role. This could be exactly what the Stars need to turn their fortunes around. ### What's Next for Both Clubs? Both clubs are also searching for new Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) coaches. Simon Helmot has left the Renegades for Gulf Giants in the International League T20 (ILT20), while Stars assistant Andy Christie is expected to step into a larger role this season. This coaching overhaul is a big deal for Melbourne cricket fans. With Ronchi bringing his international experience and White's tactical mind, both teams are hoping for a fresh start. The BBL season is set to kick off later this year, and it'll be interesting to see how these changes play out on the field.