Black Caps on verge of unwelcome record

Stephen Fleming practising in the nets. Picture / Hawkes Bay Today

Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum issued a familiar rallying cry as he and his teammates slip closer to an unwanted place in New Zealand's one-day cricket record books.

Defeat at Westpac Stadium tomorrow would not only cede the Chappell-Hadlee to Australia for the first time but would be the Black Caps' seventh loss in a row on home soil -- all against their trans-Tasman foe -- equalling their record run of home defeats from 1986 to 1988. Those losses straddled three summers, coming against Australia (twice in 1986), the West Indies (three times in 1987) and England (twice in 1988).

And it would be an eighth straight loss to Australia, their second worst against them although there is a way to go to match the 12 in a row from 1988-92.

McCullum said concentrating on the negatives was simply not worth their while.

"The nature of the beast is that we have to get back up off the canvas and hopefully have a better performance," he said, a similar sentiment issued by the Black Caps throughout a lean 2005.

Their success in the triangular series in Zimbabwe was sandwiched between two whitewash defeats, 0-5 at home to Australia and 0-4 away to South Africa.

The 147-run loss at Eden Park to kick-start the series gives little reason for confidence, particularly if Brett Lee bowls at the Black Caps top order with the same venom.

"We have to pay him our dues and we just weren't up to it on Saturday," McCullum said of Lee.

"We've got a couple of days to work on areas where we were lacking and hopefully rectify them prior to Wednesday."

When pressed on what the answers were, McCullum didn't want to reveal what will clearly be a change of approach at the outset.

However, attacking Lee is fraught with danger according to Australian batsman Simon Katich, who watched on in awe as the strike bowler took three for five on Saturday, conceding just one scoring shot in six overs.

"It'd be hard work to go hard at him at the moment, he's bowling so well. It wouldn't surprise me if they back off a bit," Katich said.

"The other night they copped Brett Lee at his best so it was hard work for them.

"I'm sure they'll come away with particular plans. When you've got guys like (allrounders) Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram down the order, it's a dangerous batting lineup."

It would be significantly more effective if Stephen Fleming could open, the regular captain showing he was in touch with a neat 62 for Wellington on the first day of the State Championship match against Canterbury in Christchurch yesterday.

Fleming, recovering from facial surgery to remove a tumour, would be an invaluable presence at the top of the New Zealand order.

He is likely to lead New Zealand in the third match at Christchurch on Saturday but Black Caps manager Lindsay Crocker said there was no consideration given to hauling Fleming out of the domestic match to play tomorrow.

McCullum said Daniel Vettori had filled the skipper's role well but Fleming was missed as the heat went on.

"He's a world class cricketer and a world class leader," McCullum said.

"His ability at the top of order, to play pace bowling and his calming influence on things -- you take a guy like that out and it's hard work.

"But for him it's just about getting some cricket under the belt after his health issues. I'm sure when his time is good and ready he'll come back and we'll welcome him back as well."

- NZPA