Four big names are unavailable, but freed by their dysfunctional board to play in the Big Bash League, running at the same time as their test tour. Figure that out.
Imagine if that were Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, BJ Watling and Tim Southee.
There is an expectation the West Indies - so far removed from their formidable era in the 1980s and early 1990s that it's barely believable - won't be up to much so there were hopes New Zealand would pick up their game.
New Zealand's performance in the first six days of this series has to raise the question in Australian eyes: would they have been that much better than the Windies as the Christmas/New Year fare, which New Zealand fans, buoyed by optimism a few months ago, were calling for?
The BBL will draw far bigger crowds than the West Indies in Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney, other than the traditional Boxing Day test at the MCG and New Year in Sydney.
In terms of organisation and playing strength, New Zealand are significantly ahead of the West Indies and yet so far the series hasn't been remotely as close as widely anticipated.
Brendon McCullum was asked the day before the test whether he saw New Zealand as being at the forefront of a push to close the gap between the so-called big three - Australia, India and England - and the rest. He demurred.
"I don't think it's necessarily the big three versus the rest and we're leading a crusade against them. But for the relevance of New Zealand on the international scene, it's important that we're performing and we're held in good esteem around the world."
New Zealand get the honour of playing what is expected to be the final test at the venerable Waca.
Redevelopment is in at Australia's major grounds. The Adelaide Oval is now a spruced up venue, if without the old charm it had for decades; the Gabba is due some renovation.
At the Waca, the grass banks needed re-sewing and some of the stands had a clunky feel contributing to a bits and bobs appearance. There's also precious little shelter from the bake.
Still it has history, which the new Burswood stadium nearby and due to be ready for the 2017-18 summer, won't have.
The players were visited frequently by water carriers through the day. Sometimes the impression is that it's overdone.
In rugby it's often more about getting messages out to the evidently witless players. Yesterday, however, only a sadist would have denied the players regular refreshment. Health and safety was the order of the day.
