Jesse Ryder scored a hard-hit 96 from 67 deliveries just the other day. James Franklin claimed a five-wicket bag in the same match.
The fact neither is part of the Black Caps one-day squad ought to be enough to shake free any complacency in the camp which might have crept in following the comprehensive win against Zimbabwe in the one-off test in Napier.
Not that complacency should be an issue ahead of the one-day series which gets under way in Dunedin today.
"We haven't won enough games to be complacent," captain Brendon McCullum said yesterday.
"We are enjoying the ride of finally being able to put some performances together but, no, complacency is certainly not an issue.
"It is a funny series coming in and knowing that you're expected to win 3-0. It is how we respond to that when they put us under some pressure, because they will put us under some pressure at some point.
"We just have to make sure that we are clinical and are strong enough in our minds to overcome that."
Three players are likely to make their one-day debut today. Canterbury's Dean Brownlie has already made an impact for the national side in the test arena and has played two twenty/20 internationals.
But provincial team-mates Tom Latham and Andrew Ellis will be making their international debuts if they make the playing XI, which McCullum suggested was likely.
He indicated Latham would bat at No 4 or No 5 and Ellis would share the bowling load and bat at No 8.
Ellis' inclusion will probably be at the expense of Jacob Oram, with Tim Southee, Kyle Mills and Doug Bracewell jostling for the first use of the new ball. And conditions at the University Oval should suit the seamers.
"It looks like it has a bit more grass on than we had during [the HRV Cup] campaign," McCullum said.
"Hopefully, with a little bit of sun ... some of that grass will die off a little bit. But, at this stage, it looks more like a bowler-friendly wicket.
"If we do have to bat we know we have enough depth to be able to counteract that."
With so many new players coming into the squad, the danger is the team could lose some cohesion. But McCullum felt there were enough experienced players in the team to offset the changes.
"I think there will be enough continuity with senior players, and in some key positions, that it shouldn't be an issue.
"One of the things I've said to the boys is it is up to the senior players to make sure they are a little bit more malleable around roles in the team. [With] the less experienced players, I am going to try and utilise them in positions that they have played and have been picked for."
No serious thought, for example, was given to asking Latham to take the gloves.
"We are giving guys opportunities but, at the same time, the expectation is that we win this series and we win it well - build up some momentum ... and learn a bit more about this team and continue the ruthless attitude that the test match team has been showing of late."
NZ v Zimbabwe
First ODI
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Rob Nicol, Brendon McCullum (captain), Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, Dean Brownlie, Andrew Ellis, Nathan McCullum, Doug Bracewell, Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee.
Zimbabwe (from): Brendan Taylor (captain), Regis Chakabva, Elton Chigumbura, Kyle Jarvis, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingi Masakadza, Stuart Matsitkenyeri, Tino Mawoyo, Keegan Meth, Forster Mutizwa, Ray Price, Tatenda Taibu, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller.
Statistics
One-day record: Played 32, NZ won 22, Zim won 8, tied 1, no result 1
Highest team total: NZ 397/5, Bulawayo, August 2005
Lowest team total: Zim 138, Wellington, February 1998
Leading wicket-takers: Daniel Vettori and Chris Harris (NZ), Paul Strang and Heath Streak (Zim), all 19
Leading run-scorer: Nathan Astle 989
Past five results
• Zim won by 1 wicket, Queen Sports Club, October 2011
• NZ won by 4 wickets, Harare Sports Club, October 2011
• NZ won by 9 wickets, Harare Sports Club, October 2011
• NZ won by 10 wickets, Sardar Patel Stadium, March 2011
• NZ won by 27 runs, Harare Sports Club, August 2005
Dos and don'ts
• In: Thermos bottles, plastic bottles, chilly bins, picnic baskets, prams, strollers, pushchairs, chairs, sandwiches, fruit, chips and cakes for personal consumption.
• Out: Alcohol, illicit drugs, glass bottles, flares, fireworks, laser pointers, loudhailers, skateboards, roller blades, bicycles, flag poles (more than 1m) and sofas.
• Radios may only be used with headphones.
• Spectators are not allowed on the pitch at any time.
