Australia defeated New Zealand by 279 runs at the SCG on Monday, completing a 3-0 series win over the Black Caps, following on from their 2-0 series victory over Pakistan.
Remarkably, Australia won all five Tests inside four days, having scored 400-plus runs in their first innings on every occasion.
It’s a far cry from last summer’s drought-breaking home series loss to India when the side was without suspended pair Steve Smith and David Warner.
In the wake of their bans, Marnus Labuschagne received a surprise opportunity and he showed that faith was deserved with four centuries across the five Tests to win the Player of the Series against New Zealand.
“The moment we don’t think we can improve, is the moment we’ll be in trouble,” Paine said.
“Certainly all as individual players we can improve and get better. If we all do that, by 3-4-5% we’ll be a better team.
“We’ve seen examples of that this summer, Mitch Starc worked on some things and came back a better bowler than he was.
“Marnus Labsuchagne has gone from a player whose selection was doubted and is now a top three batsman. Travis Head, Matthew Wade and James Pattinson too.
“We’re rapt with what we’ve done and we’re still improving. We’ve got lots of upside as a team.”
The victories have catapulted Australia into second spot on the ICC Test Championship standings.
Australia will next be in action in the longer format in June and July away to Bangladesh, who currently sit ninth on the ICC Test Rankings.
Paine insisted his side wouldn’t under-estimate the Tigers.
“Every time you go to the sub-continent those series are very very hard to win,” the wicketkeeper said.
“We’ve got our eye on that, we’ve got our eye on next summer as well.
“If we go to Bangladesh and play well and get some wins, then we come back and play India. that’s a mouth-watering prospect.
“For the main playing group, our next goal is Bangladesh. We cant take that lightly.”
Paine also insisted the 3-0 series win over second-ranked New Zealand was closer than the scoreline suggested and spoke of his admiration of the tourists’ fighting spirit.