McCullum says quicker Barbados pitches will help Kiwi top order fire

Brendon McCullum is hoping that a change of pace might allow New Zealand to unleash their powerful batting line up

The pitches in Guyana, which have favoured slow-bowlers and contributed to low-scoring matches, have limited the New Zealand top-order consisting of McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor.

Against Sri Lanka in their first match of the Twenty20 World Cup, McCullum failed to score, Ryder made a quick-fire 42, Martin Guptill19 and Taylor nine.

A rain-shortened second-game against Zimbabwe saw McCullum not out on 22 from 26 balls and Ryder out for two, Stuff.co.nz reports.

"I guess at the end of the day that's all you can ask for (that) your batters get you across the line after your bowlers do a fantastic job," McCullum said.

However, with the Black Caps now moving to Barbados for the Super Eights stage, he said he expected the wickets to be faster, hopefully allowing the powerful New Zealand top-order more of a chance to have a crack.

"It'll present a few opportunities for us top orders to play with a bit more freedom as well and hopefully we'll see one or two or even three of the top four go on and make some sizable totals in the next few games," McCullum said.

Under constant pressure to perform and now coming up against the other form teams, McCullum said the team still needed to improve.

"We're come coming up against some strong teams right the way through to so win a major tournament or a tournament like this you''re going to have to play good cricket right the way through the tournament," he said.