AUSTRALIA'S incompetence against the moving ball was once again exposed in embarrassing fashion at Eden Park yesterday, as alarm bells started ringing ahead of the bid to reclaim the world's No.1 Test ranking in nine days.
All New Zealand's quicks had to do in the opening one-dayer was find a little bit of swing and Australia predictably collapsed. 
The 6/41 capitulation was the first time Australia has lost six wickets in the first 10 overs of an ODI, and falling for 148 batting second meant it couldn't even get past the infamous 151-all out mark it experienced during last year's World Cup.
It was Groundhog Day for Australia. When the ball swings, it simply can't compete.
And the sad thing was Smith admitted the ball barely even moved. "I don't think the ball was really moving around that much today so that was a bit disappointing," he said.
"We know that the two up front (Matt) Henry and (Trent) Boult are class bowlers and wicket-taking bowlers and we just didn't adapt well enough today. We let them get on top of us. We probably went a little bit too hard at them and we didn't have it in us tonight.
"I'm not sure it's technical. It's just about backing your defence early, giving yourself a little bit longer out there to get used to the conditions.
"Hopefully we can do that and adapt well in the next game.
"I think after this batting display (changes) will be talked about amongst selectors. It wasn't our best display so I'm sure that will be talked about." New Zealand looked as though it was 50 runs short with a total of 8/307 after being sent in by Steve Smith.
But it ended up being good enough by a staggering 159 runs, with a non-referral for David Warner's lbw howler the biggest nightmare in one of Australian cricket's great horror shows.
"It wasn't a great non-referral," Smith said of Warner and partner George Bailey's decision not to go upstairs.
"I'm not really sure of the conversation those two had just yet. I'll find out once i get back into the sheds." The loss does not change the fact Australia is an outstanding one-day outfit, but the warning signs leading into the Test series couldn't be any more ominous.
Australia might have destroyed the Black Caps and the West Indies on the flat tracks at home, but yesterday's disastrous performance indicated it has once again learnt nothing from the Ashes hiding it copped in similar conditions in England last year.
Swing bowling is like kryptonite to Australia's batsmen, and with coach Darren Lehmann still grounded in Sydney with deep vein thrombosis, the pressure to turn around the hoodoo away from home is well and truly on.
Rain is predicted for match two in Wellington on Saturday, meaning Australia may already have lost the chance to bring home the Chappell-Hadlee one-day trophy.
NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA FIRST ODI, AUCKLAND New Zealand Guptill run out (Maxwell)...90 (76) McCullum b Faulkner..........44 (29) Williamson c Marsh b Hazlewood...................0 (8) Nicholls c Wade b Marsh.....61 (67) Elliott c Hastings b Marsh...21 (18) Anderson c Richardson b Hastings...................10 (20) Ronchi b Hazlewood...........16 (26) Santner not out..................35 (39) Milne c & b Faulkner...........14 (10) Henry not out.........................5 (7) Extras (b1, lb3, w7) 11 TOTAL (8 wickets for) 307 Fall: 79, 81, 181, 205, 231, 234, 263, 290.
Bowling: Hazlewood 10-1-68-2, Richardson 10-1-64-0, Hastings 10- 0-39-1, Faulkner 10-0-67-2, Maxwell 3-0-30-0, Marsh 7-0-35-2.
Overs: 50.
Australia S Marsh c Guptill b Henry.......5 (7) Warner lbw Boult................12 (28) Smith b Henry.....................18 (14) Bailey c Anderson b Henry....2 (11) Maxwell c Williamson b Boult.0 (6) M Marsh c McCullum b Bult...0 (6) Wade c Nicholls b Anderson..37 (58) Faulkner c Williamson b Santner....................19 (13) Hastings c Guptill b Santner.8 (20) Richardson c Williamson b Santner....................19 (13) Hazlewood not out.................0 (1) Extras (2lb 9w)............................11 TOTAL 148 Fall: 10, 33, 39, 40, 40, 41, 120, 121, 148, 148.
Bowling: Boult 7-0-38-3, Henry 6- 0-41-3, Milne 6-0-46-1, Anderson 4-1-14-1, Elliott 1-0-7-0, Santner 0.2-0-0-2.
Overs: 24.2Result: NZ won by 159 runs.