Rod Marsh isn’t pleased.

When you’ve been criticised for continually snubbing one of the form batsmen on the planet in Usman Khawaja, and then decide to drop Australia’s best performing 20/20 spinner (Cameron Boyce) in favour of someone who bowled only nine overs in the Big Bash (Ashton Agar), it’s a smart move to divert attention away from yourself by focusing on another problem.

That’s exactly what the chairman of selectors did when he hit out at the biggest problem facing Australian players on their tour of New Zealand — the schedule.

The two sides played three ODIs in six days, and Australia’s players barely had time to warm down after Monday night’s decider because they had to get on a bus from Hamilton to Auckland, before flying out to Wellington — the venue for the first Test — on Tuesday.

The opening Test of the two-match series begins on Friday, giving those players part of both the ODI and Test squads just two days to switch from white ball to red ball mode. And Marsh isn’t happy about it.

“I just reiterate how sorry I feel for the players. I mean it’s been a ridiculous program for them to try and combat,” said Marsh.

“Playing three different formats in the space of a week and a half or whatever it is.

“The whole season has been difficult to navigate. It’s been extremely difficult.

“I don’t know how they do it. I take my hat off to them.”

While some Test players have been able to prepare by playing for their states in the Sheffield Shield competition, no warm-up games were put on the agenda in the Shaky Isles — a rarity for touring sides who usually have at least one or two practice matches against domestic teams.

Steve Smith, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood are the players affected by the demanding schedule, which comes off the back of them finishing their 20/20 series against India at home on January 26.

Australia hasn’t had the smoothest tour to date.Source:Getty Images

But the Australian captain was more diplomatic than Marsh when quizzed about the itinerary.

“We jump from different formats day in, day out,” Smith said.

“It’s just about making sure the guys adapt accordingly ... reining it in and making sure we have our defence in order.”

Marsh’s qualms come the day after Australia blew up that Mitch Marsh was given out caught-and-bowled in the final one-dayer only after a replay of the incident was shown on the big screen.

They didn’t believe the Kiwi players appealed — meaning Marsh shouldn’t have been given out — and thought the umpires only reviewed their decision when the crowd’s reaction alerted them to the replay.

Steve Smith said he was “pretty disappointed” by the incident, saying “the whole process was handled pretty poorly”.

“I think that’s something that needs to be improved in our game and quickly,” he said.

The 26-year-old was shown having an animated chat with match referee Chris Broad along with batting coach Michael Di Venuto and team manager Gavin Dovey at the end of the match.

Former Test opener Michael Slater was also disappointed by what unfolded.

“If they’ve gone upstairs based on a crowd reaction because of the big screen then I think the wrong decision has been made.”

New Zealand went on to win the game and claim the Chappell-Hadlee series 2-1.

The first Test between Australia and New Zealand starts in Wellington on Friday February 12.