It's back to the future for Brendon McCullum. The New Zealand batsman has not been granted his wish of remaining as an opener and will instead revert to the role of innings finisher as New Zealand's one-day cricket World Cup preparations swing into gear with a six-match series against Pakistan, starting here tomorrow.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori today revealed that McCullum would slide down to No 6 tomorrow, with Martin Guptill to open alongside Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor to bat at No 3, Scott Styris at No 4 and James Franklin at No 5.
New Zealand's 11-match losing streak has been the catalyst for the shakeup, with the selectors, new coach John Wright and Vettori keen to experiment ahead of the subcontinent-hosted World Cup, which starts on February 20.
McCullum has largely been a success as an opener with his fearless approach and, statistically, has forged one of New Zealand's most successful one-day opening partnerships with Jesse Ryder.
But New Zealand feel they have lacked hitting power down the order and McCullum had a good track record in that department before he moved up to open.
"I think it is (a tough call)," Vettori said of the McCullum situation.
"He's been a success opening but the thing we have missed the most over the last year or so is that finishing ability. When Jacob (Oram) was in his prime and Brendon was there as well, they won a number of games for us.
"We think closing off games on the subcontinent with the small grounds and the flat wickets is important for us.
"I don't think we'd rule out Brendon still opening, we'll just give him a go at No 6 and see where we get to."
McCullum yesterday reiterated his preference to open with Ryder but said would do whatever was asked of him.
"It (opening) is the harder of the two options but it gives me the greatest opportunity to have an impact on the game. You only get to play cricket for a certain period of time, so why wouldn't you want that?
"I guess when things aren't going right in other areas you try and shift your balance of power and shift some of your strategies around.
"I'll give it everything I've got to make it successful, but I think our (McCullum and Ryder's) record together is great. We enjoy batting together and I think the opposition feel under pressure at times when Jesse and I are batting together."
Ryder could also be trialled down the order during this series, given his ability to play spin bowling, which will be a feature of the World Cup.
"I think that's still an option, the selectors have voiced that," Vettori said.
Jacob Oram will bat at No 7, with Jamie How the 12th man.
Vettori said they were keen to get Oram, who returns from injury, as much time at the crease as possible, given he was a valuable asset when in form.
The hosts carry their long losing streak into the series and must quickly put that behind them if they are to reassociate themselves with buzzwords such as momentum and confidence heading into the World Cup.
For that reason, Vettori hoped there would not be regular tinkering during the series.
"I think with the opening partnership of Guptill and Ryder, we need to give that a bit of an opportunity, so we may do that for two or three games."
Pakistan welcome back big hitting wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal after several months out of the fold because of spot-fixing suspicion. No case was brought against him.
They are buoyed by a 1-0 test series win but captain Shahid Afridi felt New Zealand were a good one-day side, despite their struggles on the subcontinent last year.
"McCullum, Vettori and Ross Taylor, they are good cricketers and they are matchwinners," he said.
Pakistan have won 48 of 82 one-day internationals against New Zealand but their record in New Zealand does not read well, with 12 wins to New Zealand's 20 from 34 matches.
