Three Debuts for Australia, New Zealand Opt to Bat

Brisbane: New Zealand captain Ross Taylor won the toss and chose to bat first under cloudy skies on the opening day of the first Test against Australia at the Gabba on Thursday.

Australia left paceman Ben Cutting out of the starting eleven, leaving them with a three-man pace attack and finger-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Peter Siddle, with just 25 Test caps, will lead the injury-weakened Australian pace attack along with debutants James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc.

Opening batsman David Warner is the third Test debutant in the Australian team following injuries to Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, all-rounder Shane Watson and teenage paceman Pat Cummins.

The Black Caps omitted fast bowler Trent Boult and brought in veteran off-spinner Daniel Vettori, who sat out the warm-up four-day game against Australia A in Brisbane.

Australia have not lost at the Gabba since 1988 and the Kiwis have only won a total of two Tests in Australia, both in 1985, on their way to a series win.

It is also South African Mickey Arthur's first Test as Australian coach.

Teams:

Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon.

New Zealand: Ross Taylor (captain), Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, Jesse Ryder, Dean Brownlie, Daniel Vettori, Reece Young (wk), Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Chris Martin.

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