KEY POINTS:
It would be interesting to eavesdrop the next time John Bracewell suggests to Brendon McCullum that perhaps he'd benefit from a bit of time batting down the order.
More than likely it would be a short, forthright conversation along the lines of "not flippin' likely, mate".
To say
McCullum is relishing another chance to present his credentials at the start of the innings is akin to saying fish enjoy the odd dip.
McCullum began his international career at the top, in the Australian tri-series in January 2002 with 5, 37, 0 and 29 then disappeared to various points down the order for his next 69 innings.
Then four more starts at the top against Sri Lanka last year (10, 3,2 22 and 17), two more against Australia and England (5 and 16), another trek down the list before 40, 81 and 0 in the ODI series in South Africa this month going in first.
His breezy style offers plenty; the problem is he's also pretty useful around No 7 too. His unbeaten 86 in that spot got New Zealand home for their thrilling clean sweep win over Australia in Hamilton last season.
But McCullum won't be swayed from his personal conviction.
"I'm loving it. It's a great opportunity and it's what I've been craving," he said after arriving in Adelaide for the opening Chappell-Hadlee series.
He reckons he's learnt from those earlier experiences at the top.
"I was probably a little hasty or brash last year but I put that down to experience.
"I've started to formulate a better game plan and, hopefully, that'll bring me more consistent success over a longer period of time."
McCullum is a young man in a hurry. Now vice-captain since the departure of Stephen Fleming, he is the modern face of the New Zealand game, full of confidence, a sturdy competitor who is armed with plenty of talent.
So when he says he wants the opportunity to make a more substantial contribution to the team cause by opening, he puts up a decent case.
"That's what opening brings. Every time you walk out to bat you've got a chance to win a game for your country, so what better role is there to have in a team. I don't want to head back down the order."
If it has a whiff of surrender, or acknowledging it's not his best role, then he wants no part of it.
Take his attitude towards facing the Australian quicks in Adelaide today, and again in Sydney and Hobart in the next few days.
Brett Lee and Shaun Tait put the New Zealand batsmen through the wringer in the Twenty20 international in Perth - including McCullum - but he can't wait to get back out and dice with them again. Sooner the better.
"It doesn't get any better than playing Australia in their own back yard, even guys coming in at 155 to 160km.
"That's what it's all about, that's what you do the training for, why you spend time working on your game, trying to better yourself. It's a great chance to stand up and see where you are as a player and, hopefully, I've developed from where I was last year and the year before."
When McCullum began his international career, which now numbers 27 tests, 117 ODIs and 13 Twenty20 games, Stephen Fleming was the dominant figure.
But Fleming is now gone from limited-overs cricket, but due to return for the two-test series against Bangladesh at the start of next month.
"It's been a bit different," McCullum said.
"It's shaped the team dynamic a bit from where it was. He's in contact, he still offers his ideas and experience and that's fantastic.
"Daniel's done a great job, he's a calm customer under pressure and he's got a good cricket brain.
"He's certainly tough on the boys when he needs to be but he's also quite compassionate. Albeit, it's sad to see Flem go but now it creates chances for other blokes to stand up and fill the void he's left."
And put McCullum first in line to help fill the gap.
