The drums should now be beating around the corridors of power in New Zealand Cricket.

Its bread and butter game, the one-day cricket circus, has an identity crisis.

Not only as a result of the hiding the CLEAR Black Caps received at the hands of Zimbabwe, but now because of the limp 61-run defeat at the hands of a Sri Lankan team that was hardly a top ranked combination in the National Bank series opener in Napier last night.

And if the message isn't getting home on the field, the signals from beyond the boundary should have the financial alarm bells ringing.

Having already rejected the Shell Cup this year with some of the most disappointing crowds in recent years, because of what was an inferior brand of one-day cricket, the public is showing its attitude in the attendances at games.

The crowds this year so far have been, Taupo 6220, Wellington 10,324, Auckland 14,871 and Napier 5980.

Central Districts executive director Blair Furlong said tonight's game was the worst attended One-Day International in Napier for years.

The real test of public perception of the New Zealand side will come over the next few days. Wellington's WestpacTrust Stadium is the venue for the second match of the series on Saturday, while Auckland on Waitangi Day is where the third game will be played.

These matches should be among the highlights of the year, but with such disappointing form behind them so far there has to be concern about whether the cricket being played is capable of enticing spectators to watch.

© CricInfo