Former New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor has conceded his relationship with coach Mike Hesson remains "a work in progress" ahead of this month's three-match Twenty20 International series against England.

Taylor lost the T20I and ODI captaincy to the veteran Brendon McCullum late last year, later turned down the opportunity to lead the Test side against South Africa - and withdrew from the squad as a specialist batsman.

Hesson had apparently questioned the leadership of Taylor in the buildup to that tour, with McCullum handed the reins in all three formats amid a contentious period, which ultimately culminated in T20I and Test series defeats followed by ODI series triumph.

"I've got friends in the team and I'm looking forward to playing for them, and obviously playing for management and the country as well,'' Taylor was quoted as saying by APNZ.

"I have met with Brendon. I'm sure we'll go and meet up over the next couple of days somewhere too. I don't think there will be any issues as there was anything wrong with our relationship in the first place.

"I haven't seen anything untoward coming from team-mates towards myself. And I've just been acting like my normal self, so I don't see anything there. There are probably still people outside of the team that want to stir it up a little bit, but we can't control that."

England and the Black Caps will meet for three ODIs and as many Tests after the T20Is, with opener McCullum expected to bat down the order in the latter format.

"There's every chance McCullum may bat at number five," added national selection manager Kim Littlejohn. "Mike has some pretty strong views about where he believes Brendon is best suited.

"We've had some preliminary discussions, nothing is locked and loaded, but it's definitely under consideration. We do have problems at numbers one and two, and we've got to tidy those up."