KEY POINTS:
Refreshed and buzzing to get back into international cricket, Brendon McCullum intends restating his credentials to be the world's best wicketkeeper-batsman this summer.
In personal terms, Bangladesh offers an ideal lead-in. McCullum, having shuttled between No 5 and No 3 during this year's tour of England with mixed results, is expected to be at No 5 when the first test starts in Chittagong on October 17.
Just as cricket's best allrounders have a keen eye on each other's results, so the game's top glovemen are acutely aware of their rivals' qualities. Australian great Adam Gilchrist having retired, India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni and veteran South African Mark Boucher, both highly effective batsmen, are McCullum's best indicators of his standing.
McCullum, who turned 27 last Saturday, is in his prime. He averages 31.42 from his 35 tests with a couple of centuries, one in Dhaka in 2004.
But when New Zealand fly out to Bangladesh today for three ODIs and two tests, McCullum's personal stakes will rise, which should also have a positive spinoff for the team.
He relished a decent break since the England tour ended in June, which helped recharge the batteries.
"I think sometimes when you're continually playing, or on a playing-training regime, you lose a bit of focus in terms of what you're trying to achieve," McCullum said last night. "So the time out was great from that perspective. It freshened the body and mind and gave a bit more clarity."
Captain Daniel Vettori approved of McCullum settling in at No 5 for the Bangladesh tests and probably Australia after that, and his vice-captain couldn't be happier.
"Dan knows what I'm trying to do in the game and my motives for doing it. I want to be the best batsman/keeper in the world and by moving up the order it gives me a greater opportunity to do so, and to make a contribution to my team."
A trio of uncapped but powerful shotmaker Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor and McCullum at No's 3, 4 and 5 certainly won't die wondering.
As befitting one of the most positive, vibrant figures in the squad, McCullum wants New Zealand to be ruthless against the Bangladeshis.
Bangladesh have lost 13 players to the Indian Cricket League this month, many of them up-and-comers, whose absence is more likely to be felt in a few seasons.
So it's a good chance to put the foot down in McCullum's book.
New Zealand's test reputation has long been more as scrappers who make the most of their abilities rather than as formidable pace-setters. It's time that changed, he said.
"If we want to get to the point we want to, which is to be the best team in the world, we have to start playing as frontrunners, and that's a challenge this series presents.
"This is a pretty good lead-in to a great summer and we've got to make sure we do the job clinically.
"Winning over there isn't all of a sudden going to make us the best team in the world, but it does give a nice little preparation for one of the special tours," he said of the two-test trip to Australia to follow.
* McCullum's brother, Nathan, was the standout performer for New Zealand A on the opening day of their four-day match against India A in Chennai. India were bowled out for 248, with offspinner McCullum taking six for 90 off 30.4 overs.
At stumps, New Zealand were 36 without loss, Aaron Redmond on 31.
* New Zealand's shirts will bear a new sponsor's name this season after a three-year deal with Dubai-based real estate developers Dheeraj and East Coast LLC, or DEC for short.
The Canterbury of New Zealand new playing strip was unveiled yesterday, the ODI shirts bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Warriors' black and silver.
The National Bank will stay New Zealand Cricket's home series sponsor for the next three years.
