Black Caps: Three harsh questions

New Zealand doesn't have a lot of positives to take out of the 3-0 series loss to Bangladesh. Photo / AP

Three questions out of New Zealand's 3-0 ODI drubbing by Bangladesh:

1. How does a team go from beating South Africa and England in ODI series in their own back yard, to being Bangla-washed?

This series result is symptomatic of New Zealand's long-running problems on the sub-continent. They often look clueless over there.

They can hardly be accused of under-estimating the opposition after the 4-0 drubbing three years ago.

Both bowlers and batsmen were at fault in game one, the batsmen botched game two and the bowlers squared the ledger on Sunday night.

Three names missing from the South African series win: wicketkeeper batsman BJ Watling, James Franklin and Martin Guptill.

Guptill is recovering from injury, but Franklin knows sub-continental conditions well and Watling is in strong batting form. Bangladesh are improving rapidly, in home conditions certainly.

No mental block said stand-in captain Kyle Mills after game two. Hmm.

2. Bowlers were ordinary and batting was - apart from revival in dead rubber - lame. Any positives?

Young allrounders Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham are learning fast, Anton Devcich is worth another look, Tim Southee is back in decent nick after his ankle surgery, and Colin Munro showed his capabilities in game three. In terms of fresh positives, leave it at that.

3. What would you be saying to an increasingly apathetic cricket public if you were Mike Hesson and Brendon McCullum -- or David White for that matter?

Hesson is going nowhere, so for those calling for his head you're wasting your time. David White, ceo of New Zealand Cricket has said so. McCullum is ensconced as skipper, at least for now.

They would call for patience, that there's a long summer at home to come. Beating the West Indies then India would make Bangladesh a distant memory.

You're as good as your last effort, however, so the Windies can't come soon enough. Problem is, this won't be forgotten.