The Blackcaps had very little left to salvage from the second test against India, after they were bowled out for 62 in their first innings at Mumbai, but stand-in skipper Tom Latham hopes there were lessons learned by the young players in the team.
The test world champions folded in a little over three days on a spin-friendly track to lose by 372 runs, their biggest defeat by runs, eclipsing the 358-run thumping against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2007.
"One of those things in cricket, where everything you do doesn't tend to work," Latham, who led the side in the absence of the injured Kane Williamson, says. "One of those days that happens in cricket.
"We have done that to teams at different times around the world. Unfortunately, it was our time and things didn't quite unfold the way we would have wanted.
"From our point of view, you have to take a lot of learnings from it.
"The way we were able to come back in the second innings, and guys changed their gameplans a little bit and put a little bit more pressure on the bowlers, but as we know in India, the longer you go, the harder it gets to bat."
The touring side enjoyed some bright moments from the likes of left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who became the third bowler in history to take 10 wickets in an innings, batter Will Young and all-rounder Rachin Ravindra.
"Those three guys you mentioned, their first time in this part of the world... for them to step up at different times for us and to make contributions throughout the series was outstanding," says Latham.
"It is great for the depth of New Zealand cricket to have more exposure in these conditions. The more you play in this part of the world, the more you learn and are able to grow your game.
"Obviously, pleasing for those guys, but also for everyone else, there are learnings to take, so that the next time we are here, those learnings will be put to practice."
Latham defended under-fire veteran Ross Taylor, who managed just 20 runs in four innings in India.
The 37-year-old ex-skipper produced arguably his worst test innings on day three at Mumbai - out slog-sweeping, after an erratic nine-ball scoreless stay at the crease.
"Ross obviously had the approach where he wanted to try and put their bowlers under pressure," Latham says. "As soon as you do that, subcontinent teams tend to take players away from the bat pretty quickly.
"Unfortunately for Ross, it didn't quite work out for him, but I'm sure that was the plan Ross had heading into that innings."
The Blackcaps return to New Zealand later this week and will quarantine in MIQ for two weeks, with the Bangladesh test series scheduled to start on New Year's Day at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval.
Reuters/Newshub
