Ronchi relishing taking on old mates

New Zealand wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi may be a former teammate and good friend of some in the Australian camp, but that will mean little on Saturday.

Ronchi debuted for Australia in 2008, however the gloveman soon fell out of favour with national and Western Australia selectors.

The 33-year-old opted to instead pursue a career in New Zealand, which has proven a masterstroke given he is now part of the country's World Cup side.

Ronchi will tackle Australia on Saturday when the two co-hosts meet in a blockbuster clash at Eden Park and is relishing the prospect of taking on some former teammates and long-time state opponents.

“I’ve been to the academy with guys … I watched Mitch Marsh grow up, Mitch Johnson – there’s a lot of guys in that set up that I’ve played with and against for 10 years,” he told cricket.com.au late last year.  

“It’s a different feeling around the whole situation when it comes down to game time – it’s nerve-wracking but it’s good the way it all works out.”

Australia opener David Warner noted it was "fantastic to see" Ronchi excelling at international level, but that was where the good will stopped.

"We know Ronc very well, he's a good player, has been for a couple of years," Warner said.

"He's given himself the opportunity to come over here and play for New Zealand.

"At the end of the day he's playing against us. There'll be no friends on the field, but off the field we'll probably have a beer with him."

Warner suggested Blackcaps captain Brendon McCullum was another opponent who seemed to be an infinitely likeable and "humble guy".

"I haven't played much against him, but he seems like a great guy," Warner said.

"A lot of the guys know him off the field. He seems like a great, humble guy.

"But when we walk on the field it's going to be a different story."

Warner has caused a kerfuffle in Auckland for his comments on McCullum and New Zealand fans.

"If we bowl well to him, we'll create the pressure and he'll have a brain explosion," Warner said of the Kiwis skipper, before adding that he hoped the locals "come out and boo us and give us crap like they always do".

"We love it, it gets us up and going. Gets the adrenalin going for sure.”