nzherald.co.nz has live scoring of the first one-dayer between the Black Caps and India from 2pm today.
For a cricketer struggling with his fluency at the crease, Brendon McCullum's timing can still be perfect.
The New Zealand vice-captain led both successful run chases from the front as the Black Caps edged a Twenty20 series against India that went down to the wire.
Now the opener will be expected to reproduce his form in the one-day international format which starts today at McLean Park.
McCullum's approach has been tempered from the cavalier to relatively circumspect, and though the change in tack was unintentional, it has worked in New Zealand's favour.
Better known as a dasher when facing the shiny white ball, McCullum's problems in finding momentum in the early overs of the two Twenty20 matches were instrumental in New Zealand winning by seven and five wickets respectively.
In Christchurch and Wellington McCullum batted the entire 20 overs, a rarity for a player whose ODI innings are often frustratingly short and eventful.
He hunkered down to anchor both New Zealand's pursuits of 163 and 150 - making an unbeaten 56 from 49 balls in game one before a contrasting 69 from 55 secured victory off the final delivery last Friday thanks to back-to-back boundaries and a scrambled single.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was delighted in his ability to plug away when apparently bogged down.
"There's an expectation on Brendan that he has to be a million dollars every time he plays and I think sometime's he's lulled himself into that," Vettori said.
"He's starting to realise that even when you're not in form you can score runs and you can contribute.
"Brendon's the first to acknowledge he hasn't been hitting the balls as well as he would have liked but he's still been getting the job done. He's battling through it - and doing a fantastic job."
McCullum had a subdued Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series by his standards across the Tasman last month, scoring 114 runs in five innings at 22.80.
However, his two recent half centuries against a challenging Indian attack should stand him in good stead for what is expected to be a close run series between the world No 3 ODI team - India - and the fourth, New Zealand.
Overall Vettori was optimistic New Zealand could preserve their impressive home form in the limited overs format - pointing to the development of an expansive and adaptable top four.
McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor - who twice performed a McCullum-esque match-winning role against the Australians - lack the experience of their Indian counterparts but seem primed for the challenge.
"The batting line-up looks pretty strong and pretty settled," Vettori said.
Jacob Oram's return from an achilles tendon injury provides another boost to the batting and as an added bonus he is expected to deliver at least a couple of overs of medium pace.
Oram did not bowl in the Twenty20s but his ability to tie up an end - often in tandem with Vettori - shapes as a potential impediment to a batting line-up headed by the ultra-attacking Virender Sehwag.
Although much has been made of Sachin Tendulkar's involvement for the first time on tour, the early removal of Sehwag remains a priority.
The opener hit the first three balls of his tour for six in Christchurch and in two brief innings scored 50 from 21 balls - fours sixes and five boundaries.
Vettori acknowledged that however precise the bowling plans are for Sehwag, the lusty blows are inevitable.
"We know how aggressive he's going to be. My big thing for the bowlers is I want to see them put it in the right spot. If it get hits for six from the right spot, I can live with that."
- NZPA
