KEY POINTS:
Stephen Fleming, test batsman, wants to put right one thing Stephen Fleming, test captain, was unable to do when the second test starts against Bangladesh today.
Fleming's time in the national side is winding down, but he's yet to make a test hundred at the Basin Reserve, a
ground he loves playing at.
He'll have a chance against England in March, but this weekend stands out with bells on as his best opportunity against a lightweight bowling attack on a good pitch.
And an indication that the dynamic at the top of the New Zealand team is changing came in a couple of comments from Fleming and his successor Daniel Vettori leading up to the test.
Fleming, 34, is relaxed about his low-key role as an adviser to Vettori. As New Zealand's longest-serving captain, doing the job in 80 tests, he probably finds it a bit strange having little or no say in things, but has no problem with it either.
"He doesn't really come to me at all," Fleming said of Vettori. "He's pretty sure on what he wants to do. If he wants to talk I'll still be there but he seems keen to do it his way, which is fine."
And Vettori dropped a broad hint that vice-captain Brendon McCullum is his main sounding board in the early weeks of his term as skipper.
The livewire wicketkeeper is a key figure in the New Zealand setup and Vettori said he values his input.
"I rely on Brendon a lot," he said. "He's got a good feel for the game and he's behind the stumps so he can see things from a better angle, particularly from a bowling perspective."
The Basin hasn't been kind to Fleming down the years.
His average over 16 tests is 29.57, 10 runs lower than his overall test average. His best score was 97 against the West Indies in March 2006.
He's only one of several New Zealand batsmen wanting big runs against Bangladesh - a chance to make up for the battles against the likes of South African or Australian bowling attacks and keep their name in the frame for the start of the three-test series against England.
Opener Craig Cumming is one most at risk, having missed out twice in the first test in Dunedin, being lbw twice for 1 and 4. Mathew Sinclair and Peter Fulton are others who will want runs before England's arrival.
It is probable New Zealand will stick to the same XI from Dunedin.
The aim will be another convincing win against a weak side. As Vettori put it yesterday: "When you come off as tough a time as we had in South Africa and Australia, you look forward to the games you're supposed to win."
NEW ZEALAND v BANGLADESH
Basin Reserve, starting today 11am
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (c), Matthew Bell, Craig Cumming, Peter Fulton, Stephen Fleming, Mathew Sinclair, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Michael Mason, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin (two to be omitted).
Bangladesh (from): Mohammad Ashraful (c), Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Habibul Bashar, Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Rajin Saleh, Farhad Reza, Mushfiqur Rahim, Abdur Razzak, Emanul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Sajidul Islam, Shahadat Hossain.