Despite a convincing 3-0 series whitewash, don't read too much into the scoreline of Australia's series victory over the Black Caps, says captain Tim Paine.
As the hosts last night put the Black Caps out of their misery with a 279-run victory at the SCG, to go with similar margins in both Perth and Melbourne, the Black Caps will return home with their tails between their legs, preparing for their next series against modern day juggernauts, India.
Speaking to media in Sydney after his side's victory though, captain Paine made it clear that the series score was no indication as to how the Black Caps played over the Test series.
New Zealand was forced into five changes for the Sydney Test, while Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson were also hampered by injury.
"Sometimes, the winning margin can look better than what it was," Paine said.
"This Test match was exceptionally hard for the Kiwis when you have five guys out sick, it's the end of a long tour.
"They've already played against England, so they've had a long summer.
"I thought in Perth and Melbourne, when we thought we had them, they kept coming, or they clawed their way back into the game. That's what we expect them to do.
Paine also hailed the fight and resilience shown by the Black Caps, as well as the spirit in which the two sides played the series.
"We still think they're a quality side, [and] 3-0 looks like it's very one sided.
"But the Test matches and my nights' sleep would suggest otherwise. Most of the time they were very hard fought.
"Whether we scored a big first innings, they seemed to take wickets in our second innings and get themselves back into it, or at least put us under a bit of pressure.
"I thought it was a hard fought Test series, and as always that the two teams played it in really good spirit."
The Test series won't be the only time the two sides meet this summer, with Australia hosting the Black Caps in a three-match ODI series in March for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.
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