Andrew Alderson: NZ's smugness valve should remain shut

Australia's Josh Hazlewood reacts during day one of the fourth Ashes Test cricket match, at Trent Bridge. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

It's curious how the human mind works. Watching Australia's batting line-up melt for 60 had the cerebral cortex conjuring up an image of New Zealand coach Mike Hesson's data-laden work laptop.

My mind's eye pictured it easing open somewhere in Harare and capturing the 10 sequences of technical vulnerability in readiness for the trans-Tasman home-and-away test series, starting in November.

An extension of that scene envisaged the footage being emailed post-haste into the inboxes of Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

Stuart Broad's eight for 15, the best test bowling performance at Trent Bridge, riveted. The display left him level with Fred Trueman on 307 test wickets, albeit with differing averages (Trueman's 21.57 v Broad's 28.95). It was complemented by exquisite slip catching.

The fitness and accuracy of Boult and Southee form the key to New Zealand's hopes of emulating Broad. Theirs is a pristine chance to entrench their pedigree as the country's greatest new ball partnership, especially if they pitch up outside off, on the line of a fictitious fourth stump.

In what smacks as a bizarre turnaround from their dominance at Lord's, Australian cricket is at a nadir after the Edgbaston and Trent Bridge capitulations. With the mental disintegration element of the series neutralised early, the visitors appear to have few answers through their leadership. Captain Michael Clarke and coach Darren Lehmann look bereft of solutions to counter England's juggernaut.

New Zealand's only series win in Australia was in 1985-86. It started with Sir Richard Hadlee's finest test bowling performance, nine for 52 at the 'Gabba. This presents an opportune time to repeat the dose, even if it comes with an experimental pink ball in Adelaide.

New Zealand might also take a skerrick of credit for England's performances. Their recent 1-1 drawn series was quality cricket played at an outstanding cadence in an uplifting spirit between two respectful teams. The only aspect lacking was a deciding test. Whether the same can be said for the Ashes remains a moot point.

There is still time to play in this test and the series, but history suggests Australia will struggle to prevent the spiritual return of the urn.

The smugness valve in the New Zealand camp will also remain clamped shut. Of all teams in recent years, they know how humiliating it is to crumble. The 45 against South Africa in Cape Town at the start of 2013 and the capitulation to England for 68 at Lord's later that year, are calcified in many memories. The current side also lost to 11th ranked Zimbabwe on Sunday.

However, the current New Zealand side has never been handicapped by a sense of entitlement. That has been integral to maintaining a winning record which took them to the World Cup final and through a record seven undefeated test series. Australia's Nottingham nightmare is unlikely to change that thinking.