Shane Bond sees McGrath and Pollock as role models

After demolishing Bangladesh with a brilliant spell of fast bowling and capturing four wickets, Shane Bond told the media that he was not too happy with his rhythm.

"I look up at guys like Glenn McGrath and Shaun Pollock as world class, and that is where I'd like to get to. I'll have to work hard to reach that level around the World Cup time."

Bond reckoned that it swung a lot today unlike the game against Australia, with the humid conditions in Colombo.

"It is a bit of a shame that we didn't have such conditions against Australia."

The winning captain Stephen Fleming said that today's win against Bangladesh was only convincing statistically, and he was not too happy with the tentative batting.

Fleming pinpointed the problem with New Zealand one-day cricket as the lack of ability to convert the starts to big scores.

"Starting with me, we are reluctant to kick on and get the big score. We have been flirting with partnerships and getting partnerships of 60s and 70s. We are creating a lot of pressure for guys down the order," said Fleming.

Fleming was quick to add that the successful teams in the tournament have had someone getting a hundred up the order and making big scores to help chase or set big targets.

Talking about their performance in the ICC Champions Trophy, Fleming said, "We are disappointed with the Australian game, and were not really there in that game. We have finished on a much better note; the bowling and catching were very good today."

Fleming said that the team had put in a lot of hard work in the last eight days, keeping in mind the tour to Sri Lanka coming up next year.

"We have been working out a few things, playing spinners, and different types of practice and getting used to the conditions. So when we come back here, we will be more prepared."

The New Zealand skipper is a disappointed man that they could not defend the trophy they won in Kenya. He made no excuses though.

"Each individual tournament has its own character. It was a tough game against Australia first up. You always want to compete whether it is a series or a World Cup. We wanted to play well here, and we didn't do it this time."

New Zealand had some success against the all-conquering Aussies last summer, and Fleming explained the recipe for success against the Australians.

"You've got to absorb pressure. If you don't absorb pressure, you are not going to be there in the ball game.

"They have the ability to apply pressure in batting and bowling. You've got to be on song from ball one. If you go behind in any game, it is very hard to catch up with them. The key to success against them is to be in the game and competing."

It was indeed quite disappointing to see the Bangladesh batsman taking a few steps back against the likes of Mills and Oram. Bangladesh fly out to South Africa tomorrow and are to play two Tests and three ODIs. Fleming reckons that the Bangladeshis have some work to do to stay in the game with the South Africans.

"They don't get much exposure to quicker and bouncier pitches. They have to look at it as a real learning experience. If they get spooked up, they are not going to learn anything."

"They have to show a lot more steel and face up to the South Africans, not an easy task, but you got to learn that way at the highest level," Fleming added.

It was a disappointed Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud who addressed the media. After the Kiwis had dealt the knockout punch, there was nothing much for the skipper to say.

"We have a tough tour of South Africa coming up. It is going to be seaming tracks and the boys would have learnt something from here."

Talking about his sore right shoulder, Mashud said, "I had an injection three weeks back and had one right after the game."