Cricket: Black Caps' series result the worst ever?

The Black Caps' series loss against lowly rated Bangladesh could go down as their worst tour in recent memory.

That's the opinion of former Black Cap John Morrison on the back of the Black Caps' third straight ODI loss to the world's ninth ranked side, handing Bangladesh their first ever series win over a major cricketing nation.

Down 3-0 in the five match series with one game remaining, the second match was rained out, the Black Caps are one more loss away from an embarrassing series whitewash.

Before the tour the Black Caps had lost only one ODI to Bangladesh in 17 encounters.

When it comes to New Zealand's worst ever ODI tour results three heavy series defeats in the past decade against South Africa (5-0 in 2000/01), Pakistan (5-0 in 2003/04) and Australia (5-0 2004/05) statistically rate amongst the worst, all of which however were against more established teams than Bangladesh says Morrison.

"It's shaping up as one of the worst ever because Bangladesh is so lowly rated," Morrison told nzherald.co.nz.

"That was a bad tour to South Africa but you can never say South Africa were a poor side. They may not have been as good as they sometimes are but they are a number of rungs up the ladder than Bangladesh at any time."

Morrison is also adamant it's not Bangladesh getting better but the Black Caps underperforming that has seen them fall 3-0 down in the series.

"I don't think it's the coming of age of Bangladesh really, it's pretty disappointing how our side are playing. Sure Bangladesh slow the pitches down but that happens in most countries, that's the reality."

Morrison, who played 17 tests for New Zealand between 1974 and 1982, has real concern for New Zealand cricket with the ICC future series programme set to change 'at any minute' which could see the best nations in the world turn their backs on tours down under.

"As we know television networks control a hell of a lot because they pay for most of the cricket, let's face it, and we're not a very attractive side and we're not performing then the danger is we start missing out on tours.

"Suddenly we don't see England here as much, Australia don't want to come here then we'll drop into the next zone we're we constantly playing Bangladesh, Pakistan and possibly Sri Lanka with the West Indies and Zimbabwe thrown in.

"I think that's the bigger picture danger at the moment and the way to fix that is not only to negotiate well, which people say is the requirement, but it's also to play well so you can negotiate well. Otherwise it's pretty tough to go to the negotiating table when you've just lost a series to Bangladesh."

The series loss to Bangladesh won't help the Black Caps' profile going into a summer that features just one series against a Pakistan side embroiled in recent match fixing claims.

"It's not stacking up well and with only Pakistan coming out the other problem is the credibility of Pakistan. One you've got New Zealand playing poorly and two you've got Pakistan who let's face it their PR position at the moment is a bloody disaster.

"Come February and March we have nothing on because the World Cup is in India so again the cricket public is starved and what tends to happen when you leave a vacuum, somebody else steps into it.

"It's pretty disappointing for cricket followers who are keen to see New Zealand step up and cricket's under threat from all angles as every other sport is."

The Black Caps will attempt to avoid a series whitewash when they play the fifth ODI against Bangladesh on Sunday afternoon.

Black Caps' worst ODI series results:
Tour of West Indies 1984/85 - Played five lost five
Tour of South Africa 2000/01 - Played six lost five (one no result)
Tour of Pakistan 2003/04 - Played five lost five
Australia in NZ 2004/05 - Played five lost five