Cricket: Vettori demands ODI clean sweep

Ross Taylor says he's not feeling pressure to carry New Zealand's batting effort. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand are shifting their gaze inward and away from their opponents going into the third ODI against Bangladesh today.

There is a substantial gulf between the teams, as the first two ODIs and the embarrassing opening Twenty20 international have amply demonstrated.

Bangladesh are distinctly handy in sub-continental conditions; but where the pitches have some bounce and movement they are struggling.

So as much as New Zealand might want a tougher contest ahead of their series against Australia starting later this month, they have to make the best of the situation.

"We have to expect Bangladesh to get better and play stronger cricket, therefore our game has to improve," captain Dan Vettori said yesterday. "We want to win this series 3-0 so we can take momentum into next week's test."

Vettori admitted it was difficult to say how much New Zealand's preparations for facing Australia are being helped by their series against Bangladesh.

"Australia are playing exceptionally well, but we can only deal with what is in front of us."

And so New Zealand are looking at sharpening up the areas of their game in which they have been less than entirely convincing, notably bowling at the closing stages.

"If we can improve on that regardless of the outcome it will hold us in good stead looking towards Australia where it's going to be a crucial part of the game," he said.

New left-armer Andy McKay is likely to get his chance to show his capabilities today, after Daryl Tuffey and Ian Butler got carved up in the late overs of the second ODI in Dunedin on Monday.

McKay's opening spell was highly impressive that day, a seven-over burst producing two for four. His first test cap is looming in Hamilton next week. Vettori likes what he is seeing from the Wellington quick.

"He's kept his pace up and impressed all of us," the captain said.

"He's a 29-year-old, well-rounded man who knows his game inside out, and that's probably helped him coming in, as opposed to a 19 or 20-year-old.

"He doesn't have those nerves or fears. If it works for him it works; if it doesn't he knows he's given it his best shot."

New Zealand's batting has had contributions from a variety of sources in the Bangladesh series. Jacob Oram plundered 83 at two runs a ball in Napier's opening ODI; Neil Broom and Peter Ingram have had satisfying innings; while Ross Taylor's man-of-the-match-winning 78 in 51 balls demonstrated his capabilities and growing importance to the batting setup.

But if Taylor feels any extra onus on him to be the dominant batting figure on whom much depends, he hides it well.

"I know my job and what I need to do," he said. "I don't feel under any more pressure, I've just got to go out and do my job.

"I guess it's the responsibility of the whole batting unit to step up," Taylor said.

"You get low scores and it's about stepping up when other players don't do as well."

NEW ZEALAND V BANGLADESH, Christchurch 2pm today

New Zealand: (from) Dan Vettori (c), Brendon McCullum, Peter Ingram, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, James Franklin, Neil Broom, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler, Andy McKay.

Bangladesh: (from) Shakib al Hasan (c), Imrul Kayes, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Raqibul Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Abdur Razzak.