The Brendon McCullum-Mike Hesson regime is on the cusp of its biggest one-day international series triumph in today's third match against India.
Victories in South Africa and England were laudable, but to defeat the world champion just over a year out from the World Cup would be a further tribute to consistent team selection and players who have been given the freedom to express their skills within an aggressive New Zealand structure.
''Good sides win series consistently and that is where we want to get,'' strike bowler Tim Southee said.
''That is the approach Brendon and Mike have brought by showing we can go out and play our natural game. We are an exciting batting line-up with ball-strikers all the way down. If they put the runs on the board again, it will allow us bowlers to be aggressive all the way through the innings.''
The focus for New Zealand today is with the bowling. Hypothetically, had Adam Milne stayed fit he would have played. If McCullum judges the wicket to be fast, shorter balls will again be used as they were in Napier. India will not be as vulnerable to the pull or hook this time but it was a useful tactic which removed four of the visiting side's top six. As a result, Hamish Bennett could make his first ODI appearance since March 2011 as a replacement for Kyle Mills.
Bennett gets the ball through at a quicker pace. He would return as the top wicket-taker in the Plunket Shield this season, having claimed 24 wickets at 23.12. In the HRV Cup, he took three wickets at 49 with an economy rate of 7.35.
Southee and Bennett (26) go back a long way. They even travelled together for a fortnight to Dennis Lillee's Chennai pace bowling foundation in 2007 when they were not long out of school.
''The last few years must have been frustrating for Hamish with some serious injuries but he's been rewarded with a recall,'' Southee said. He deserves another crack. He didn't train in Hamilton but I'm looking forward to seeing him on bouncier wickets.''
Southee confirmed the short ball will be given regular consideration.
''Eden Park does offer a bit of pace and carry and is generally a good batting surface. The small boundaries can be a bit daunting [for bowlers] but it can also swing a little. We're expecting the wicket to have more pace [than Hamilton] and the boundaries are a bit bigger square so that [the shorter ball] may come into play. We've got to remember India will adapt better as the series goes on.''
Southee said New Zealand's march to a series victory was again dependent on breaking the human batting safe which is Virat Kohli.
''We haven't bowled well when he first comes out which has allowed him to get in and keep going.''
Third ODI: Auckland, 2pm today
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Kyle Mills/Hamish Bennett, Mitchell McClenaghan.
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni , Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami.
