McCullum digs at English appetite to win

New Zealand will let bat and ball do the talking in the second Test at Leeds but captain Brendon McCullum is happy to have a subtle dig at his England opposites beforehand.

McCullum is questioning whether England can reproduce the belligerent, attacking cricket that carried them to a 124-run win in the first Test.

After being roared on by a full house at Lord's for five days, he wondered aloud if the hosts can repeat the dose at Headingley starting on Friday.

"I guess the challenge for England will be, what is their authentic style?" McCullum said.

"It's a challenge we had to go through not too long ago, and hence we've come up with an aggressive style that we think is right for us.

"I guess time will tell if the performance of England in the last game is the way they want to play or whether it was one they stumbled upon."

England need only draw to clinch the two-Test the series and end New Zealand's run of six successive unbeaten series over the last two years.

Reflecting on events at Lord's, McCullum said: "It's not panic stations -- we just have to improve our rough edges.

"I still feel we played a good Test match.

"While we are disappointed to have lost, we still scored more than 730 runs and took 20 wickets -- which on most occasions would win you a Test match."

Image Id: ~/media/B4273576A08342B4AFE71DFDD1764FA5Bowled! McCullum falls to Stokes in the first Test // Getty Images

McCullum was adamant his side would stick with their attacking approach to Test cricket in the series finale.

"This is how the New Zealand cricket team is playing, and there are times we'll get beaten, but it's our greatest chance of success," said McCullum, much praised for his bold approach when leading the Black Caps to this year's World Cup final.

McCullum has concerns in the form of injuries to allrounder Corey Anderson (back) and wicketkeeper BJ Watling (bruised leg).

Anderson has been ruled out of the match after bowling just eight overs in London and is set to be replaced by seamer Doug Bracewell.

Watling is still struggling with his movement and could open the door to a Test debut for 34-year-old gloveman Luke Ronchi.

Meanwhile, McCullum has reacted frostily to criticism from commentators at the nature of the Lord's defeat.

Much of the negative assessment has come from New Zealand, mostly contending that the tourists should have closed shop when victory seemed beyond them on the fifth and final day.

Instead several batsmen continued to play their shots, maintaining a slim chance of victory deep into the final day.

They were dismissed for 220 with less than 10 overs remaining.

"I was a little bit surprised, but I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion about how you play a certain style," McCullum said of the criticism.

"I make no apologies to how we play the game because we have seen in the last six series that we have been undefeated, and playing that way gives us the greatest opportunity."

McCullum said there had been no knee-jerk reaction and that his players would be better for another few days preparing in English conditions.

"We had to cop it on the chin, but I'm pretty sure we have some improvement left on us."