By Martin Davidson of NZPA

Hamilton, Feb 15 NZPA - Test cricket really is a battleground these days.

Just ask New Zealand captain Dan Vettori, who leads his team into the first test of the year, a one-off affair against Bangladesh starting at Hamilton's Seddon Park today.

The two nations last met in the test arena in October, 2008, when New Zealand won a two-test rubber 1-0 in Bangladesh after the second test was ruined by rain.

Of the side who won the first test by three wickets, only four players remain in the 13-strong squad assembled in Hamilton -- Vettori himself, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum and Jeetan Patel

So in the space of just 16 months Vettori has seen any number of players leave the scene.

Jacob Oram and Iain O'Brien have retired, in Oram's case to extend his limited overs career, Jesse Ryder and Kyle Mills are on the injured list, and the selectorial knife has erased Jamie How, Aaron Redmond and Daniel Flynn from the reckoning.

Vettori is resigned to the regular comings and goings although that's not to say he would not appreciate leading a team more settled in personnel.

"Unfortunately, that seems to be the nature of New Zealand cricket these days," Vettori said.

"There is a high turnover for a number of reasons and form and injury are probably the two biggest causes.

"That is sad because you do want to keep some consistency but we play so much cricket these days that it just happens."

Since inheriting the captaincy off Stephen Fleming, Vettori has assumed ever increasing responsibilities, including his new role as a selector, and for a time he even undertook some coaching responsibilities after previous coach Andy Moles resigned last October.

He has been his team's leader, best bowler and best batsman for the past 12 months and fully understands what needs to be done as New Zealand seek to improve on their ranking at No 6 in the International Cricket Council test rankings.

Their cause has not been helped by players falling over or out of form.

"We have had a core of guys like myself, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum and Chris Martin, and then we've filled the pieces together around that," Vettori said.

"It's been particularly so in the batting lineup where you want to see the top six there as often as possible.

"But the only way to do that is for the guys to perform and unfortunately that hasn't always been the case."

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