Cricket: Black Caps look to restore some pride

Brendon McCullum is nothing if not honest.

In a bittersweet series - more bitter than sweet - in which his keeping continued to improve while his batting average went south, McCullum knows who he's measured against.

"The difference was Adam Gilchrist managed to [average] 170 and Brendon McCullum managed to average 16," he said with admirable use of the third person. "It's a wide gulf between the two No 7s.

"I was very disappointed. There were opportunities during the series where I got myself in, got to 20 and one way or another found a way to get myself out. It was highly frustrating for me and highly frustrating for the public, I guess. I'm not too proud to admit I've learned a lot off Adam in this series."

The Black Caps face Sri Lanka tomorrow at McLean Park, Napier, in the first of the two-test series. McCullum is keen to make amends.

The dasher often looked in too much of a hurry against the Australians, batting like he had 40 runs on the board before he had started. There was little of the resolve to temper his natural strokeplay that he so brilliantly showed against England at Lord's last year.

There are no such concerns with his wicketkeeping.

"Again it was another progression. I feel pretty much on top of my game with the gloves at the moment. The people whom I trust nearest and dearest to my technique and game are rooting for me as well. They've seen the improvements also."

Among that coterie are former Black Caps coach Steve Rixon and former Black Cap Adam Parore, who are on hand to offer advice and support to McCullum.

Both would have been as excited as McCullum when he pulled off one of the hardest acts in cricket: a catch down the leg side off a right-hander (Ricky Ponting) standing up to a medium-pacer (Nathan Astle).

"I enjoyed that one. I've been working really hard on my game and so hard on my keeping, it was great to clinch one like that. There's been a couple over the past 12 months where I can look back and say I got it right then. To be honest, I went to bed that night pretty happy with that catch."

If McCullum keeps playing the comparisons game, which he says he tries not to focus too hard on, he'll find himself against another worthy foe this week.

While Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara might not be in Adam Gilchrist's class, he has a fairly firm grip on the No 2 wicketkeeper/batsman in the world.

"He's a great player. It's a battle I'm really looking forward to.

"We're all excited about this series because it's perhaps a chance to redeem a bit of pride and hopefully leave the public on a positive note."

Although the scars left by Australia will need all winter to mend, McCullum hopes they won't be the only things to heal.

"In a way you've got to keep it in perspective. We're missing six or seven of our front line players and that hurts any side. It'd probably hurt Australia also.

"As long as we can manufacture what we've learned [from Australia] into this Sri Lankan series, then it will hold us in good stead."

The Black Caps have brought Central Districts opener Jamie How into the fold this week.

While he's not an official member of the team, he'll take part in all aspects away from the field.