Steve Smith admits he's disappointed with the quality of the WACA pitch, which produced a draw and some 1672 runs in the second Test.
Smith had to make a difficult decision on day five of the match.
Given the docile nature of the deck he opted against giving New Zealand a genuine sniff of victory.
The 26-year-old defended the conservative declaration, saying the pitch gave him few options.
"It was just a really tough wicket to get wickets on," Smith said.
"Traditionally the wicket out here has had a lot more pace and bounce, going into the game that's what the groundsman indicated it was likely to be like.
"It didn't turn out that way unfortunately. I was a bit disappointed with the way the wicket played.
"It was really tough to take wickets, so I don't think there was much more we could do."
Ryan Harris suggested flat pitches in Brisbane and Perth would have played a part in Mitchell Johnson's decision to retire.
Johnson didn't want to discuss the issue in depth but admitted some days recently he felt "like a bowling machine" because of docile decks.
"The wickets definitely get harder and harder and flatter," Johnson said.
"Look it might have played a little part I guess, day in and day out you're running in.
"But I really did enjoy the challenge, even though sometimes it felt like an unfair advantage to batters.
"I never complained about it .. I'm not blaming wickets or conditions on my retirement."
Harris, former skipper Mark Taylor and Test great Justin Langer have all been highly critical of Australian pitches in recent days.
Brendon McCullum noted he held little hope of victory on the morning of day five, given the state of the strip and the fact Australia resumed at 2-258.
"I wouldn't say they were high hopes, because it was going to take something miraculous for us to come out on top," McCullum said.
"It's satisfying when you fight yourself from as far back in the game as we were ... not just a draw but an encouraging sign of the steel, resolve and backbone in this line-up."
The speed at which balls deteriorated in the second Test was also a source of angst for McCullum and Smith.
"It's just up to the powers above me to sort that out with Kookaburra," Smith said.
"It was a little bit disappointing the way we had to change so many balls throughout this Test match.
"It wastes a lot of time."
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