Oz media calls bowling 145;toothless, directionless146;

The defending World Cup champions failed to defend a ground record 336 for four and were run down by the Kiwis with 337 for seven just days after a humiliating first 10-wicket defeat in 646 one-day internationals played across 36 years.

8220;Australia have lost their unbeatable aura and number one world ranking after their bowlers were pasted to all parts of Auckland8217;s Eden Park,8221; The Australian newspaper said today.

8220;South Africa go into next month8217;s World Cup in the Caribbean as the leading one-day nation.8221;

Of particular concern is the performance of the Australian bowlers, unable to take a New Zealand wicket in Wellington and then relinquishing a seemingly unbeatable record total in Auckland.

8220;None of Australia8217;s four headline pacemen 8212; Glenn McGrath, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait or Shane Watson 8212; threatened the Black Caps8217; batsmen for extended periods, while the spinners, Brad Hogg and Cameron White, were toothless and directionless on a miniscule ground that forgives neither,8221; The Sydney Morning Herald said.

8220;Of significant concern to Australia8217;s World Cup planners is that, in the past 12 months, the side has conceded the three highest run chases in one-day international history.

8220;Yesterday8217;s effort by New Zealand slots between the world record 438 Australia conceded to South Africa in Johannesburg, and the 332 compiled by the Black Caps in Christchurch, both last year.8221;

The SMH said in many ways, Sunday8217;s capitulation, which sealed Australia8217;s first four-game losing streak in almost a decade, was more concerning than the 10-wicket loss in Wellington on Friday.

8220;On that occasion, Australia8217;s inexperienced batsmen were caught out on a seaming wicket by one of the world8217;s premier pacemen, Shane Bond,8221; it said.

8220;But in Auckland there was no such excuse, as Australia8217;s high-profile bowling attack was plastered across the Eden Park turf by the home side8217;s batsmen.8221;

It was particularly disappointing for stand-in skipper Mike Hussey, who lost his third straight match as Australian captain, having top scored for his side in all three of Australia8217;s record losses.

The Herald said the most concerning performances from Australia8217;s fast bowlers came from Tait 0-64 and Bracken 2-66.