New Zealand's desire for a confidence-boosting limited overs series against Bangladesh, starting on Monday, has been tempered by the need to ease the workloads of Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

Bangladesh have not won a single match in their previous visits to New Zealand. So, ahead of their latest bout against the Black Caps that starts with the Boxing Day ODI at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Monday, questions were asked about whether the Tigers could end the long-standing jinx this time around.

The result of Bangladesh's tour match against New Zealand XI at the Cobham Oval in Whangarei yesterday was a three-wicket defeat for the tourists, but it was a fruitful outing for Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's team ahead of the first ODI at Christchurch on Boxing Day.

Mustafizur Rahman, one of Bangladesh's most famous cricketing exports, has broken new ground for his country by becoming the first player to win an International Cricket Council (ICC) award.

Bangladesh national cricket team tasted defeat in their 43-over tour match against New Zealand XI when they went down by three wickets at Cobham Oval, Whangarei today.

Bangladesh's bowling department has been significantly boosted for their tour of New Zealand. Talented left arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman has been included in the 15-strong squad, who start the limited-overs leg of their tour with the first ODI at Christchurch on Boxing Day.

When Chandika Hathurusingha signed up to be head coach of Bangladesh in 2014, he was joining a side that had only won one Test this decade and had lost nearly two thirds of its one-day internationals.

Bangladesh are giving themselves every chance of making a decent fist of their tour to New Zealand starting on Boxing Day.

The Bangladesh national team will be availing the services of a wicket-keeping specialist during their 10-day preparatory camp in Australia.

Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan will leave for Australia tonight to join the 22-member preliminary squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand scheduled to begin from 26 December, 2016.

Opener David Warner smashed his second straight hundred to spearhead Australia's 264 for eight in the third Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-dayer in Melbourne on Friday.

After having aced a number of challenges at home, the Bangladesh national cricket team will embark upon a new challenge from the end of this month when they begin their tour of New Zealand.

It will be a special moment indeed when Bangladesh's two most promising young pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed pair up in conditions such as those in New Zealand.

Bangladesh cricket has already entered a new era where the Tigers' main aim is to convert their dreams into reality. They are a team whose name is uttered with a lot of respect nowadays when it comes to limited-overs cricket.

Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim expressed his optimism regarding the tour of New Zealand as the first batch of cricketers left for Australia as part of the Tigers' preparation for the tour.

Australia will not be taking their collective foot off the gas in Friday's third one-day international against New Zealand in Melbourne, despite it being a dead rubber, according to all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.

Eoin Morgan returns to captain England in both the One Day International and Twenty20 series with India after opting out of the Bangladesh part of the tour over security fears.

Controversial all-rounder Glenn Maxwell could still find himself on the outer in Australia's second one-day international against New Zealand on Tuesday.

The decision not to review a leg before wicket appeal on Australia's captain Steve Smith was the right one at the time as there was significant doubt from even people off the field, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has said.

Steve Smith hits a record-breaking century and took two superb catches as Australia beat New Zealand by 68 runs in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day series opener