By Andrew Gourdie
The Black Caps' management team, led by skipper Daniel Vettori, will front the New Zealand Cricket Board on Friday to explain their humiliating series whitewash at the hands of cricketing minnows Bangladesh.
3 News was at Auckland Airport late last night as the team arrived home to face the music, with the tour to now undergo a full-scale review.
After a 30-hour flight, the faces said it all as the Black Caps arrived home just before midnight, coinciding with what some have described as New Zealand cricket's darkest hour in more than 50 years.
The coach tried to evade our cameras, and soon went searching for excuses.
"I don't think the two warm up games rained out helped much," said Mark Greatbatch.
The captain though was more than willing to accept responsibility for his team's woeful performance.
"It's all on me. I think over a number of roles, but ultimately my role is to help the team win and to make the team win, so when they don't I should be culpable for the losses."
Vettori is one of the few players to come out of the tour with his reputation in tact. The same can't be said of the top order after a series of constant failures.
"The efforts from the guys were certainly there, but we just weren't able to step up in the situations that were required," says Brendon McCullum.
But it's hard to agree with him after seeing the top order throw their wickets away with such poor shot selection.
Questions are sure to be asked of their effort and application in a full review of the tour by New Zealand cricket management
"Why are we making the same mistakes out in the middle?" asks Geoff Allott.
"That's really at the crux of it, technically."
Allott confirmed Vettori's off-field roles will also be discussed and continue to be monitored, while Greatbach's future as coach appears safe at least until the World Cup.
"I think we've had a challenging tour, no question about that," says Allott, "but we've had a key focus and have had for some time around this World Cup and we need to stay true to that."
While management are safe, the players will learn their fate on Sunday when the New Zealand side will be named to tour India.
3 News