New Zealand got smashed in the first One Day International against England, and were robbed through pathetic old-school regulations in the second.

But so what?

It's a 5-match series, and New Zealand are down 1-0 with 3 to play. In a situation like that, what would Australia be saying?

If you think they'd be talking about being robbed, you're wrong. They'd move on very quickly. Given 3 games left, they'd be focusing on winning the series - and probably would win. They'd be looking forward, not back.

New Zealand cricket have an attitude problem, and we're sure it stems from Bracewell. We've said it time and again, but we have some spectacularly talented players in this current Black Caps side, and the team as a whole has serious potential. We should not have to complain about being robbed - we should be winning anyway.

England's One Day side is, after years of complete 'averageness', starting to perform again. But New Zealand is 3rd in the world at ODI's - and for good reason. They should not be losing to this England side, and should not have to moan when they 'come close'

Which, of course, is rubbish anyway. Close? Needing 7 off 1 over in gloomy, damp conditions? Close? Being a single wicket, potentially 1 ball, away from losing? We'd hardly call that close. What we'd call that is balanced - it could have gone either way.

Sure, New Zealand had a good chance of winning the match. But so did England - where were their complaints of not going 2-up in the series?

Strauss has been called in to cover the struggling Cook, and will be rubbing his hands together having clocked up some serious runs against this New Zealand side - first in New Zealand, and he now continues that in this series in England. Sidebottom is still struggling, and may well miss his second game in a row.

Oram is out again for New Zealand - a huge blow to the balance of the side, and yet another missed match for the big all rounder. You're a fantastic player, Jake, but you're not much use to us in the changing sheds...

Mark Gillespie will replace Mason, who will probably be relieved to not have to bowl against young Luke Wright again. Gillespie has always been an interesting prospect for New Zealand - he can be terribly, terribly wayward, but he has an extra yard of pace than the other New Zealand bowlers, and offers a different dimension to the attack.

And he'll need it, too - Bristol is an historically high scoring ground, and if Wright can get away at the top of the order...New Zealand had better hold their breath. The bowling in this series has been average at best, and if England's openers can lay the platform for guys like Pietersen, Bopara, Shah, Mascarenhas and Broad...

McCullum, though, always keeps New Zealand in it. He batted well in the last game, and is the biggest threat to England's chances of taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

So, sports fans - who's going to take this out? In the past, we'd have backed New Zealand 100%. The lack-lustre performances with both bat and ball in recent times, though, have got us wondering - how much will our rankings drop between now and when Bracewell leaves?

Come on, New Zealand - please prove us wrong.