Australia captain Steven Smith won the toss and elected to bat first in overcast conditions Thursday in the series-opening cricket test against New Zealand.
The three-test series, the first between the teams since 2011, continues in Perth next week and concludes with the first day-night test match, which starts Nov. 27 in Adelaide.
Smith is leading Australia into a test series for the first time since assuming the captaincy when Michael Clarke retired.
The New Zealanders are aiming for their first test series win in Australia since 1985.
Brendon McCullum's lineup is settled, with the return of Doug Bracewell in place of Matt Henry to support new-ball pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult being the only big selection change.
Australia has a new-look batting lineup, with Joe Burns opening in a test for the first time to support vice-captain David Warner and Usman Khawaja getting a third chance in the starting XI — and first since 2013 — batting at No. 3.
Burns played two tests last summer against India, scoring a pair of half centuries in Sydney batting at No. 6.
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Lineups:
Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Johnson, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (captain), James Neesham, BJ Watling, Mark Craig, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.
Umpires: Nigel Llong, and Richard Illingworth, England.
TV umpire: Sundaram Ravi, India. Match referee: Roshin Mahanama.
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