nzherald.co.nz has live scoring of the first one-dayer between the Black Caps and India from 2pm today.
On the eve of the ODI series against India, New Zealand's top four batsmen got a big rap from their skipper - Dan Vettori calling the quartet "probably the most exciting top four I've played with".
The four, openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder, new face Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor, have only played together in one ODI - against the West Indies at Napier in January - as well as two Twenty20 internationals against India last week. But their individual talents, and collective potential, persuaded Vettori to lavish high praise on them.
"I've been very impressed with them. Some of them are in a relatively new career and it's pretty exciting.
"They could be around a long time," he said.
Vettori pointed not only to their run productivity but the rate at which they score them. None of them are slouches, all averaging over 80 on strike rate in ODIs.
And he likes the fact they can be both match winners but also have the ability to adjust to whatever situation they face.
He singled out vice-captain McCullum for special praise.
"The expectation on Brendon [is] that he has to be a million dollars every time he plays. Sometimes I think he's lulled himself into that.
"He's the first to acknowledge he's not hitting the ball as well as he would like, but he's still getting the job done."
And he wants McCullum to continue opening the batting, rather than revert to a role around No 7.
"I've always backed him from the start. Everyone talks about the five-over power play at the end.
"But there's 15 overs normally at the start you'd much rather take advantage of than a shorter period later on."
