Later this year, New Zealand is set to undertake Test tours to the subcontinent, which will include series against Sri Lanka and India, both of which will be part of the World Test Championship.

Following a disheartening loss against Australia, Tim Southee, expressing his disappointment, stated uncertainty about leading the side in the upcoming series, given the conditions on offer in those countries.

Having played his 100th Test in Christchurch, Southee has faced scrutiny for his bowling form, managing only four wickets in the two matches against Australia. Before that, in the series against South Africa, the pacer snared just two wickets across two matches.

"We'll see," Southee said when quizzed about captaining New Zealand in the sub-continent. "Obviously you go to Asia, the make-up of the side changes slightly with spin becoming the main threat in that part of the world. But we'll see when we get there. We'll deal with this tonight and look to move forward to what's to come."

The skipper chose to persist with pace bowlers until the last over before lunch, neglecting to utilise the potent spin of Glenn Phillips. This decision proved costly as Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh exploited the situation, constructing a formidable 140-run partnership that turned the game in Australia’s favour.

Phillips had accounted for the wickets of Marsh and Carey in the first match when he recorded his maiden five-for in Test cricket.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing," Southee said. "But I think the amount of times we went past the bat in that first session, we felt that seam was the option. We created a few chances through that first session. I think we felt that seam was the right move."

Ben Sears did bring New Zealand back into the game with consecutive wickets of Marsh and Mitchell Starc with Australia still needing 59 runs with three wickets in hand.

However, Cummins came in clutch once again for Australia, stitching an unbeaten 62-run stand with Carey to take the visitors across the line with a boundary, sealing the series 2-0.

As a result of the loss, New Zealand slipped to third in the World Test Championship standings, with Australia rising to the second spot.