Perfection. In terms of trans-Tasman sport, the BLACKCAPS' thrashing of Australia was perfect as we beat the Aussies to such an extent that they started having a whinge; you know you've done the trick when the Aussie cricketers and their media can only whinge.  This wasn't however a perfect cricketing display from the kiwis which you could argue is a great sign as our lads beat up Australia and there's still a few failings to pick apart.

Pick apart or poke the beast. Prince Kane isn't the sort of batsman who knows what it feels like to walk out to the crease only to swiftly be sent back to the sheds, unlike us mere mortals. This is a luxury that we are graced with nowadays as it's hard to fathom Williamson failing in back to back innings and with Australia likely to bounce back, responsibility will largely fall on Williamson's shoulders for the bulk of the runs.

This reflects the need for a batsmen to go big and score a century, ensuring that a target of up around 300 is set or that 300 can be chased. I wasn't too fussed about the inability of Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum or Henry Nicholls to kick on as Eden Park feels like a 'hit out or get out' sort of ground and opportunities are presented throughout the innings thanks to the need/desire to attack. At Westpac Stadium in Wellington, the BLACKCAPS will need Williamson or another top-four batsman to make greater use of their start and show a touch of ruthlessness to not allow Australia back into the contest, as was the case in Auckland.

A lot of this has to do with the mediocrity of our middle-order, an issue that has lurked in the shadows all summer. It started with some passive-aggressive kiwi arrogance, bemoaning the lack of opportunities that the middle-order got because Guppy and Prince Kane were in such glorious form and now here we are, hoping that Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi can maintain the flow of runs. If Australia get early wickets, or if they pick up a few quickies after the initial Guppy/B-Mac onslaught, they will sniff blood and I'm not sure how Anderson, Elliott and Ronchi will deal with that heat.

Either way, Mitchell Santner is there, flexing his muscle as the No.1 kiwi allrounder. The more I see of the Santner the more willing I am to label him one of a few key players moving forward. Australia know all about his batting ability now after the Tests in Australia and his innings at Eden Park so it'll be fun to see how they deal with the threat he offers.

How Australia line up will also offer funk by the kilogram. Questioning why Usman Khawaja wasn't in the team has been about as trendy as a Kathmandu jacket or a Nike cap and with Shaun Marsh not taking his chance at the top of the order, Khawaja must certainly partner David Warner. A Khawaja/Warner combo will be an awesome challenge for Matt Henry and Trent Boult, the sort of challenge that excites athletes and fans alike.

James Faulkner's gone back to dingo-ville and Marcus Stoinis has replaced Tasmania's finest, Stoinis is a like-for-like replacement in terms of being an allrounder and don't be surprised to see him take Faulkner's spot in the team tomorrow.. Australia can turn to Scott Boland who is a hustler of a right-arm-medium-pacer or they could switch things up and roll with leg-spinner Adam Zampa, a move that could offer some spice to this second ODI. 

Josh Hazlewood, John Hastings and Kane Richardson will be buoyed by the fact that they did eventually slow the kiwi batting display down, but the kiwi batsmen have now seen their variations and what they offer. This isn't the best Australian bowling attack we've seen, they are however an Australian bowling attack and those Aussies always find a way, somehow, so how they respond to the first ODI will be something for cricket-nerds to sink their teeth into.

The fact that Faulkner's absence leaves Australia with an all right-arm pace attack only enhances this as they'll need to be creative to offer some variety, otherwise Guppy and B-Mac will once again flourish.

You'd hope that the kiwi bowling attack is the same tomorrow as it was at Eden Park; Boult, Henry, Milne, Santner, Anderson, Elliott. This is the opposite to the Aussie attack, with plenty of variety, I just can't see Australia's top-order being rag-dolled again and they'll be eager to smack it around, showing Henry and Boult especially, who's boss.

We've all seen this before, in fact we saw it with Pakistan in their T20 series here after they looked fabulous at Eden Park only to be shown up in the next game. Everything went the way of the kiwis in Auckland, something that the cricketing gods don't do with any consistency. 

This second ODI is a matter of simply finding a way to win. The BLACKCAPS might steamroll Australia again, although a more likely scenario is that the dingo folk put up a fight and for me the best way to display a 'nail in the coffin' touch of ruthlessness would be to grind out a win, ooze grittiness, stay in the contest when Australia have the rub of the green and win ugly as they say.