One can hardly blame any of the players in this damp squib of a series for being slow to reach top gear. But the Australian fast bowlers showed much more spark here on the fifth morning than on previous days. They may well be close to top form for next week's third Test at Perth, and then for the main course of the summer – the series against South Africa. That is not to patronise the New Zealanders, who have proved tough nuts to crack even if the weather has hampered Australia's push for victory in both matches. Craig McMillan and Daniel Vettori are two who will leave for Perth with their already solid reputations enhanced. But the big showdown, the series with South Africa, attracts more attention with every shower in this opening series. The double-header – three matches in Australia and three more in South Africa in February and March – will not only decide which is the best team in the world, but also who is the best fast bowler around.

Glenn McGrath has been even slower to move towards his best than he usually is at the start of a home summer, but Jason Gillespie is in terrific form and Brett Lee is steadily gathering momentum. Against them will be Shaun Pollock, South Africa's captain and McGrath's main rival as the best in the business.

It is never wise to underestimate champion bowlers, but Gillespie, the relative newcomer, might surge past both tried-and-trusted leaders. At Hobart this morning Gillespie was in wonderful form, bowing fast, accurately and moving the ball both ways. Perhaps he is just a little too good at the moment to find the edges and take the wickets he deserves. He had similar bad luck in India earlier this year, when he was behind only Harbhajan Singh as the best bowler in the series. His figures did not quite support that assessment - but his performances did.

Perhaps Gillespie is just an unlucky bowler. Or perhaps he bowls a touch too wide of off stump to take bags of wickets. Partly through wishful thinking I disagree with both theories. After his heroics in the third Test at Chennai, when he dragged Australia back into the match late on two days with never-say-die spells in enervating conditions, Gillespie became my favourite current cricketer. Add his wonderfully determined batting, sound behaviour and a well-disguised intelligence and you have an inspiring young player.

Two things have hampered Gillespie in the past – injury and bad luck. He faded a little in the fourth and fifth Tests in England recently and his next challenge will be to maintain current form right through the next seven matches, right to the end of the series in South Africa. His contest with McGrath and Pollock will be fascinating, his head-to-head confrontation with Gary Kirsten fierce and probably decisive. Stay tuned.

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

Day 1: Already out of sight
Day 2: Punter makes a case for the captaincy
Day 3: NZ struggling to stay afloat
Day 4: No favours this time

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