A great batch of cricketers or just Greatbatch's brainless mob?
Most are probably of the opinion it is the latter.
With the public baying for blood following the Black Caps' embarrassing 4-0 drubbing by Bangladesh last month, even coach Mark Greatbatch turned on his side, saying they "played like dicks".
Honest? Brutally.
Well thought out? Let's just say it was from the Paul Henry school of diplomacy.
But is there anyone outside the top five who actually disagrees with his cutting assessment?
He is right, of course. Some of the top order are not good enough, some think they are better than they actually are and most batted with the poise and wit of a hopped-up pro wrestler.
The default setting seems to be to lash out and thump every other delivery to or over the boundary.
That's fine if you are good enough to get away with it. But how many times is Ross Taylor going to be caught out at cow corner before he shelves the slog sweep?
The world knows how devastating Brendon McCullum can be. He has a great eye and fabulous hand speed, but is prone to rushes of blood and rash shots.
There is a time for aggression and it is not during the second over when you chasing a meagre target of 175 to avoid a series whitewash. McCullum is better than that and so is Taylor.
But they weren't the only ones to disappoint. Jesse Ryder looked overconfident yet out of sorts at the same time, BJ Watling appeared out of his depth and Grant Elliott was unconvincing.
The only top-order batsman who emerged with any credit was 20-year-old Kane Williamson, and he is still making his way in international cricket.
What was most disturbing was the lack of application. Whatever happened to looking around the field for scoring opportunities and knocking the ball in that direction?
A single is not a failure. It won't make the highlight reel but, with a little patience, games can be won one run at a time, especially when you are chasing small targets.
No-one is suggesting Bruce Edgar return to anchor the innings, or Geoff Boycott be called in for batting advice. But more diligence and less haste couldn't hurt.
Of course, not everyone is of the opinion the Black Caps' series loss to Bangladesh was as bad as it seems. Captain Daniel Vettori suggested some perspective was in order. Bangladesh played well and deserved some credit for its performances.
A colleague posed the legitimate question of when will a loss to Bangladesh be considered acceptable? He cited the example of Sri Lanka rising from minnow status to being world champion in 1996.
Sri Lanka's success, though, came about because of champion players such as Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya. But Bangladesh is effectively a one-man team, with captain Shakib Al Hasan its only world-class player, whereas the Black Caps boast four or five players who supposedly fit into that category.
So where to now for the beleaguered side? On to India to be humiliated in three tests and probably the five one-dayers as well.
While all the focus has been on the batting, it is hard to see how an ageing attack comprising the likes of Chris Martin (35), Andy McKay (30) and Brent Arnel (31) are going to take 20 wickets to help win a test.
Forget about it. Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar will put the New Zealand seam attack through the grinder and then mash the remains.
The bookies' favourite, Pakistan, returns to New Zealand for three twenty/20 matches, two tests and five one-dayers. Hands up if you are excited about that series.
And in February, there is the World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
New Zealand still has time to turn its performances around, and the team has a proud record at the tournament, reaching the semifinals on five occasions.
But based on recent form, the Black Caps lack the nous and are just not good enough to win the World Cup.
And Greatbatch called it first.
