KEY POINTS:
It wouldn't be a decent Australia-New Zealand contest without a bit of juice in it. So a big hand for Brad Haddin for putting his big gloves right in it during New Zealand's two-wicket thriller in Perth on Sunday night.
Now Haddin sounds injured by New Zealand captain Dan Vettori's thoughts on the incident when at a critical juncture, Neil Broom was incorrectly given out bowled when Haddin had his large mitts illegally dislodging the bails.
A more experienced batsman than Broom, in his third ODI, might have stood his ground and pressed the point with the umpires.
And Australian captain Ricky Ponting's attack on Vettori's view that Haddin appeared to be giving off guilty vibes over the incident, before he had actually seen the incident after the match reeked of blind defence of a colleague, come what may.
The match rammed home the notion that Australia are in a pickle.
Their batting was by turn reckless and brainless - terrific, thoughtful New Zealand bowling and spirited, accurate fielding notwithstanding - as though they didn't really know their business.
To their credit, Australia bowled with real heart and almost pulled off a win they had no right to achieve.
Australia have now lost their last four ODIs - and five of their last six - and are on track to equal their five successive losses to England and New Zealand two years ago.
Ponting looks badly in need of a break. His constant chats with his bowlers between deliveries suggest uncertainty over what path to take in the field. That led to another slow over rate fine in Perth. Australia's punishing schedule is taking a significant toll on their own leader.
Players running 20 metres between balls to hand out low fives or those ludicrous botty pats to bowlers who have sent down a ball a couple of feet outside the off stump suggest desperate, forced enthusiasm.
And Australia have no one they can bring in who is likely to make a substantial change in the short term.
That's what happens when a collection of stellar performers retire round the same time. Some can't be replaced; others can, but the process takes time. And that's what the Aussies don't have with the incessant pressure to stay top of the heap.
When New Zealand arrived, shorn of senior players Jacob Oram and Scott Styris, we wondered whether they would have the ability and the smarts to capitalise on the crushing job South Africa did on Australia.
One tight squeeze on the final ball is far from fullproof evidence, but there are clear signs that New Zealand could enjoy themselves in the next couple of weeks.
Three of their four key players stood tall in Perth. Ross Taylor carried a listing batting ship to the point of victory with a fine, composed 64; Kyle Mills and Vettori were the game's outstanding bowlers.
The odd man out, Brendon McCullum, was victim of a bad umpiring decision. That can happen, although proponents of players' challenging umpiring decisions will have filed this match away as firm evidence for their argument.
However, New Zealand must take a hard look at their batting. They almost botched what should have been a straightforward job, looking timid where a dose of positivity would have helped. Had they finished a few runs short, with wickets in hand, it would have been inexcusable.
But they didn't and their confidence will be up.
In Melbourne on Friday night, with Glovegate helping to spice things up, the heat will be on in more ways than one.
