It was very much an opportunity for the Blackcaps to hit back at some critics after Sunday's heavy defeat in the Chappell-Hadlee series opener.
However, while they changed their tactics, instead of looking like a versatile team that could match it with the best, the Blackcaps looked lost and devoid of ideas.
Here's how each player rated:
Matt Henry - 1
Bowlers can be forgiven for bowling wide, short or full but not for constantly bowling no-balls. After being hit to all parts of the SCG on Sunday, you would have thought Henry would have also learnt not to bowl short to Steve Smith.
Trent Boult – 3
Ill-disciplined opening the bowling. Needs some support but isn't patient enough at ODI level to consistently pound the avenue of apprehension.
Tim Southee – 6
Showed why he was brought in for Lockie Ferguson with his disciplined line and length. Full and outside off-stump to Smith limited the damage inflicted from the Aussie captain and he found the yorker more often than not.
Jimmy Neesham - 4
Given just the one over which was hit for 12. His fielding in the outfield was atrocious. It's clear the team don't know how to use him either with him coming into bat at four. Made a solid 73 in a doomed innings.
Mitchell Santner - 3
Was surprisingly first change bowler and finished with less than a run a ball in his 10 overs of 47-1, no mean feat in a total of 378. Did very little with the bat but the game was already lost.
Colin de Grandhomme - 3
Whoever told Kane Williamson that de Grandhomme is a death bowler couldn't be further off the mark. Looks increasingly like a one trick pony, particularly when he doesn't score any runs.
BJ Watling – 2
The Blackcaps needed fast runs and Watling was not the man to deliver. Wouldn't be a bad a move to see him open, particularly as he tends to grow into an innings.
Colin Munro – 2
Didn't really feature in the field or with the bat after making just 11. Showed in game one that he has some mettle but could have fired in game two and New Zealand still wouldn't have gotten anywhere near Australia's total.
Martin Guptill - 4
Gave the Blackcaps a glimmer of hope but was good enough to get something on a very good ball from Pat Cummings when others not as in form as him would play and miss. So far, Guptill is the only slight positive in a very poor series for all Blackcaps involved.
Kane Williamson - 2
Worst performance by a Blackcaps captain in recent memory. Won the toss on a beautiful pitch at a relatively small-ish ground and sent a strong, run-scoring Australian side into bat.
A run-a-ball 81 came after the game was already lost. You really have to question what kind of captain Williamson will be after this performance after a clear willingness to be defensive.
Tom Latham - 1
Didn't do himself any favours with another poor performance with the bat. Made a few good saves in the field but needs to perform where it counts, at the top of the order making runs.
Newshub.
(All images courtesy of Getty)
