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Jared Cunningham suggests that we might see Aotearoa's favourite wicket-keeper (Luke Ronchi) open the batting in some pre-Champions Trophy fixtures against Ireland and Bangladesh.

I guess that's what this little tri-series is all about and if the decision-makers legit view Ronchi as their numero uno w-k/batsman, then they would be wise to give Ronchi as much game time as possible. We all know that Ronchi hasn't exactly earned selection via stacks of ODI runs, so one would assume that his place in an Aotearoa 1st XI isn't all that safe and that means that Ronchi has to score runs in this tri-series to swing things in his favour.

In favour of Ronchi possibly getting a looksie as an opener is that having the w-k opening the batting gives Aotearoa options lower down the order. The funk however comes as that's exactly why I like Tom Latham as w-k and Latham is the captain for this tri-series, so he's kinda got to play every game. Latham and Ronchi are the only certified w-k in the tri-series squad and then the Champions Trophy squad, so they are effectively competing against each other.

There's little sense in playing Latham and Ronchi in the same team because neither has scored enough runs of late to demand selection. When dealing with Aotearoa's cricket team, we aren't exactly working with logic though and while it seems very silly, we can expect to see Latham opening the batting and Ronchi batting down the order as a w-k during this tri-series.
Perhaps Latham and Ronchi could form an opening partnership while Martin Guptill is on IPL duty?

This is only a viable option because George Worker isn't in the Champions Trophy squad. Put aside the collective disdain for Lesson and stay practical here as this tri-series is the only preparation Aotearoa have for the Champions Trophy; is it more important to see Worker open or to give Ronchi time at the crease ahead of a major tournament? At this stage, Ronchi needs time at the crease and the priority for this tri-series has to centre around preparing the blokes who will play Champions Trophy cricket.

Expand that out a bit and I'm back wondering why some of these blokes have been selected for this tri-series. Jeetan Patel and Mitchell Santner need to bowl as many overs as possible ahead of the CT, Ish Sodhi doesn't. Ross Taylor and Neil Broom need time at the crease ahead of the CT, Colin Munro and Henry Nicholls don't. Jimmy Neesham needs to sharpen his work with the ball ahead of the CT, while Hamish Bennett and Seth Rance don't. Ronchi and Latham need runs ahead of the CT, Worker doesn't.

I'm not against Ronchi opening in this tri-series but it's more a case of Ronchi merely needing to figure out how to bat in ODI cricket before a major tournament. Whether that's opening or down the order, I don't exactly care. This is systematic of a wider problem as we have no idea who the top w-k is and Lesson had all summer to prepare for this, yet they didn't so what is most intriguing right now is: will we see a clear w-k plan in the tri-series?