Rain might spoil this first Test match, but Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee's rescue effort in Australia's first innings sent out an unequivocal message to the New Zealanders: Australia's batting depth is so great these days that opposition bowling attacks need everything in their favour to have a chance of dismissing Steve Waugh's side for under 300. A dropped catch, a missed run-out or, as was the case in this Test match, an umpiring decision that goes the wrong way can all lead to disaster. Australia can be 200 for 5 and in danger of collapse, but a couple of hours later they can be 350 for 6 and on ther way to 450.

This sort of reversal has been a feature of Australia's recent batting and Gilchrist has been the permanent feature of those reversals.

Gilchrist is surely the best No. 7 of all time, and as long as he stays there and continues to average 50 all of Australia's top seven will be able to play with a licence to kill.

Only a greentop in Perth or a dusty turner in Hobart can save New Zealand's bowlers from this now well-established scenario.

In the past two years some critics have pored over the statistics, then taken aim at the least consistent of the Australian batsmen. Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Michael Slater and Ricky Ponting have all heard the calls. Fortunately the selectors know more about what makes a cricket team than stat-obsessesd observers.

With Gilchrist adding such depth to the batting aided by the conscientious work of the lower order - the bowlers who take their batting seriously - Australia's top order have been able to play freely. Apart from the series in India earlier this year, the top six rarely fail together. A few fall cheaply but there's always one or two who make runs. Add Gilchrist and Australia usually reach 400.

This is what makes this Australian team so resilient. The depth of talent adds to the confidence that the captain instills in his players. Someone will always back himself and turn the attack back on the opposition bowlers.

Austalia's depth in batting adds an extra player to the 11 on the team sheet. It adds an extra dimension to the team unit, a dimension that is not measured in the stats columns. Gilchrist and the captain are largely responsible for this development. Now the big question of the summer is whether Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and company can blast their way through this inconsistent but formidable Australian batting line-up.

Mark Ray has covered Australian cricket since 1987 and is also the author of a number of books on the game.

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