Luke Ronchi can be roped in as a specialist opener for India tour

Luke Ronchi, the wicket-keeper batsman might get a call-up as an opener for the upcoming Test series against India. This off-field call comes even as coach Mike Hesson is looking for options to combat Indian spinners on what is expected to be turning tracks. As of now the regular pair of Martin Guptill and Tom Latham will stride out to open, but Ronchi will come into the fray if they struggle to get going in the sluggish conditions.

Apart from Ronchi, the team management has also dropped hints that Henry Nicholls and Mitchell Santner might be the other options to bat at the top of the order. While Ronchi has been a permanent fixture in the ODI team, he has only played in a solitary Test match against England where he shone with a counter-attacking 70-ball 88.

The former Australian is widely regarded as a good player of spin and hence will be called up to combat the Indian spinners.

"It's not your traditional New Zealand opener that you require over there. You need guys who can score against spin, find ways to rotate the strike and keep the game moving. Luke's there as a backup batsman as well as a backup keeper. His ability against spin certainly makes him an option". Hesson told stuff.co.nz on Sunday.

Hesson has maintained that both Guptill and Latham will be the regular openers, but then it is always advisable to keep options open. For instance, Guptill has a very mediocre average of 23 in India.

"Seamers, if anything, might bowl 2-3 overs up front and it's more likely they're going to have spin at one end to start with if they're going to play three of them. And if you've got two left-handers against Ashwin at the top it's going to be a big challenge for us. We have to assess conditions and pick what we think is the right mix."Hesson added.

He, however, threw all his weight behind Guptill and hoped that he improves during this tour.

"It's important for Martin that he can transfer what he's been training onto the park. That message has been out there a long time. I know he's working hard at it," he observed.

The first Test match begins on September 22 at Kanpur.