On a perfect batting strip where first-innings totals of 500 are common, New Zealand self-destructed for 270 and never recovered in the second Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval.
And captain Daniel Vettori took aim on Monday at his top six batsmen, saying they had plenty of talent and not enough application.
Opener Aaron Redmond made 83 and 19 and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum was the other Kiwi batsman to pass 50 in the match, scoring an unbeaten 84 as the tourists collapsed for 203 in their second innings to lose by an innings and 62 runs on day four.
Vettori said the 2-0 series defeat was a lesson for his batsmen in how to build an innings.
His criticism came despite the inexperience of his top six; Aaron Redmond, Jamie How, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton and Daniel Flynn have played a combined 54 Tests.
Vettori backed his side to improve, saying the talent was there.
Spinner Vettori, who took 2-124 off 59.4 overs in Australia's innings of 535, was asked if he was pulling his weight and being let down by everyone else.
"I'd hate to think of it like that," he said.
"As a collective we're not putting team performances together.
"It started with the bat in this Test match and continued with the second half with the ball and then once again with the bat today.
"We are just really not getting anything right and I think to compete with Australia obviously you need the opposite of that."
Opener Redmond was a case in point, resuming on Monday on 15 and immediately hitting a boundary and getting caught at point from the second ball of the day.
"It's disappointing. You set up some game plans and you want things to work that way," Vettori said.
"You talk about it long and hard and when it doesn't come to fruition then the disappointment sets in.
"It wasn't just Aaron. I think it's the way we played throughout the innings.
"Nothing went to plan.
"I think the application is the big key because we all acknowledge that they are pretty talented guys. The Ryders, the Taylors, the Hows, all the top six are extremely talented players.
"Now we need to find a way to turn that talent into consistency at scoring runs. In the end it does come down to application and that is for the whole 11 guys who go out there and bat.
"In these two Test matches it hasn't been evident at all."
