I think if you take from Australia's batting performance anything other than they were off the boil after the broken up schedule, you're setting yourself up for disappointment I feel. And I love Southee and Boult. It was just obvious. Conversely, given NZ's form and the momentum they had accrued, there is a problem with genuine pace. Once McCullum went (and the manner in which Cummins dismissed him is a marker for the next clash), they couldn't score, and it seemed all about the pace. Anderson felt like he had to go after Maxwell.
I think if they meet again it'll be a rout Australia's way. But hey, if I'm wrong, power to them.
That's a very convenient way to interpret it. I mean, had Anderson not played that ugly swipe against Maxwell when there were 20 runs needed with 5 wickets in the bank, would you still be saying that?
Let's go through just how weak NZ are against pace shall we;
Guptill - looked absolutely fine to me only to be caught at mid-off after a loose shot - Affected by pace? - NO
McCullum - took a blow to the body, not unlike any other international cricketer does once in a while, but all & all, he loves pace so - NO
Williamson - Obviously was totally unfazed so - NO
Ross Taylor - Proven class player who averages +40 in both forms, if he had a problem against Pace, we'd know by now so- NO
Elliott - Terrible dismissal yesterday & one of the commentators rightly pointed out it looked like a no 11s dismissal, but he has played fast bowling well in the past & was NZ's star in the last ODI series in Australian conditions, so I'd honestly say - NO
Anderson - Struggled against Starc early on, but looked better as the innings progressed - Got out to the part-time spinner with the finish line in sight, so I wouldn't necessarily say he has an obvious weakness vs pace from that innings, so - NO
Ronchi - Bought up in WA & generally bats well against pace & bounce, even if he played that Starc bouncer poorly yesterday, so I'd say - NO
Batsmen 8-11 - Yes, probably not unlike any no.s 8-11 in the world, they have a weakness against express pace - so YES.
Overall, the way I sure it is once Anderson played that lazy poor stroke vs. Maxwell, it gave Starc a look at our lower order & once he got Ronchi, our tail looked very susceptible to his almost perfect yorkers, admittedly.