KEY POINTS:
Forthright New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum has veered away from any talk of putting the hammer down on Bangladesh in today's second one-day international at McLean Park.
New Zealand turned in a solid performance in winning the opening game of the three-match series by six wickets at Eden
Park on Wednesday.
They have talked of making sure each game is a step forward but McCullum believes Bangladesh deserve respect, although anything other than a convincing 3-0 series win will be an ordinary return.
"It's important we just stick to what we do," the New Zealand vice-captain said yesterday.
"I don't think we'll try to go out and wipe the floor with them. They are a lot better than that and we should pay them the respect they deserve."
But McCullum acknowledged there was an element of no-win about New Zealand's situation. They are expected to dust the Bangladeshis comfortably. They have won all nine ODIs between the two teams, although Bangladesh can claim notable wins over several other senior test-playing nations, including Australia.
"It's hugely important for us to win the series 3-0. You could say we're meant to and from our point of view we want to, and know we probably should," McCullum said.
"We've got a very proud record at home in the last few years and it's important we give the cricket public something to cheer about during the Christmas-New Year period."
McCullum was aware of an extra spring in the New Zealanders' step yesterday after a grim couple of months on the wrong end of beatings in South Africa and Australia.
"There was a lot better feeling in the changing room yesterday. They're not Australia or South Africa, but they're a dangerous outfit and we've got to be careful."
None more so than their captain Mohammad Ashraful, whose dazzling 70 at Eden Park on Wednesday set the match alight. Another 10 overs of Ashraful and New Zealand would have been chasing round 250 rather than 202, which they accomplished, a tidy opening stand of 90 from McCullum and Jamie How laying the groundwork.
McCullum appreciated the spectacle Ashraful provided, although New Zealand's bowlers wouldn't have found much to enjoy about it.
"He played some amazing shots," McCullum said. "I was mightily impressed. Since the last time we played him he's improved out of sight.
"We've got to go back to our plans and see how to take care of him. If we do it will give us a major lift in terms of cutting through their batting lineup."
Apart from Ashraful, the rest of the Bangladesh batting is average, although their coach Jamie Siddons sees some good signs for the future.
Patience is needed but it's interesting to ponder what shape their national side will be in in 10 years. There are batsmen just out of the under 19 national side. Siddons knows it will take time but he's prepared to back the young players to come through.
"They're going to come unstuck at this level quite a bit in the next two or three years but I'm certainly going to give them every opportunity to improve," Siddons said.
"Learning cricket at this level is not the easiest thing in the world. They're working hard on areas of their game that are letting them down.
"Give them plenty more games and they'll get better, no doubt."
Bangladesh have made one batting change for today's game, Tushar Imran coming in for his 40th ODI in place of Mehrab Hossain.
