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Brendon McCullum says the expectation is to win the series against Zimbabwe and win it well. - Source: Photosport -
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Brendon McCullum and Brendan Taylor couldn't be coming at today's one-day series opener in Dunedin from more different positions.
McCullum, the New Zealand skipper, is eager to continue the recent high the Black Caps have enjoyed and put Zimbabwe to the sword.
Even a win isn't really enough; a thrashing like that dished out in Napier in the one-off test is the only acceptable result.
On the other hand, Taylor is desperate for his side to show the fight he insists they have.
After answering more questions on the humiliation in Napier, Taylor was quick to bring up the last one-day match between the sides when his team chased down 328 to beat the Black Caps in Bulawayo.
"That's what we've been discussing so we'll leave all the negatives out and take what we did in Bulawayo," he said.
It's a nice thought, albeit a naive one.
Bulawayo was a flat, low track with little in it for the bowlers, giving batsmen confidence to play their shots.
Dunedin's University Oval will have bounce and sideways movement and the Zimbabwe batsmen, Taylor excused, simply do not have the skills to counter that.
It's a point Taylor disputes.
He was in the nets not long after sunrise yesterday, but insists there's no extra pressure on him.
"I always put pressure on myself. But then again there's a lot of other experienced players [in the Zimbabwe squad]."
McCullum said he expected the tourists to put up a good fight, but hardly sounded convincing.
"They will put us under some pressure at some point," he said.
"[The one-day format] definitely brings them closer, but if we execute in the areas we need to then our skill levels should be too high."
McCullum is likely to be ridiculously aggressive in this match, just his third as ODI captain.
He made no secret of wanting the job after Daniel Vettori stood down, but lost out to Ross Taylor.
He's none from two in charge, but judging by yesterday's training, he's raring to pick up his first win in style.
He led a brief, but to the point, talk with the batting group before taking the gloves in a catching practice that included four slips at some stages.
He said if he wins the toss, as he's done both other times he's led the side, he'd likely bowl first and put the Zimbabwe batsmen under pressure like they were in Napier.
Taylor claimed his side had forgotten the Napier match and because of their much better record in limited overs cricket, felt they were a real chance today.
"We're going to have to be right on the money because they've got some quality players that will take the game away from us," he said.
"If we get all three departments right then we have a good chance."
He confirmed both experienced spinners Ray Price and Prosper Utseya would play and said they, and the top four batsmen, were where the tourists could win the game.
Tarun Nethula and Michael Bates have been left out of the Black Caps 12 and McCullum confirmed there would be debuts for Canterbury pair Tom Latham and Andrew Ellis while Dean Brownlie is also expected to play his first ODI.
McCullum did fire off a none to subtle warning to the new players, suggesting he expected big things out of each one of them.
"We're giving guys opportunities, but the expectation is that we win this series and win it well and build up some momentum.
"They also need to continue the ruthless attitude the team's shown of late."
