WELLINGTON, Feb 19: Former Australia wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi will captain a New Zealand XI against England in a four-day warm-up match ahead of the first Test starting next month.Ronchi, who played four One-day Internationals and three Twenty20 matches for Australia, was born in New Zealand and now qualifies for national selection after returning home in early 2012.

He is among the leading run scorers in New Zealand’s domestic first-class competition this season, making 760 runs at an average of 69 with four centuries.

Ronchi is vying with South African-born B.J. Watling for the wicket-keeping role in the three-Test series against England starting March 6.—AP