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.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
Australia vs India - 1st Test West Indies vs Bangladesh - 1st Test 1st ODI - Zimbabwe v Pakistan - November 24, 07:30 GMT 2nd ODI - Zimbabwe v Pakistan - November 26, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Kandy No results 3rd T20I - Australia v Pakistan at Hobart Australia won by 7 wickets (with 52 balls remaining)

Bracewell Delivers Extraordinary Victory for Kiwis [+]

David Warner's 123* went in vain as Doug Bracewell's 6/40 took New Zealand to a thrilling seven-run victory over Australia on Day 4 of the second Test in Hobart.

New Zealand Ahead After Australia Bowled Out on 136 [+]

The second Vodafone Test is delicately poised at stumps on Day 2 with New Zealand holding a 153 lead over a misfiring Australian outfit, finishing at 3-139.

New Zealand's Vettori Out for Month [+]

All-rounder Daniel Vettori will be out for up to a month with a hamstring injury, New Zealand Cricket said on Saturday.

Pattinson Five Make Aussies Day [+]

Persistent rain has put a dampener on the first day's play between Australia and New Zealand at Hobart's Blundstone Arena on Friday.

Boult Debut, Vettori Out, Australia to Bowl [+]

Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and chose to field on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand at Bellerive Oval.

Australia Confident as Lively Pitch Beckons [+]

Australian captain Michael Clarke said he could be tempted to bowl first if he wins the toss on a Bellerive greentop in the second Test against New Zealand.

Christian Replaced Cutting in 2nd Test Against New Zealand [+]

Australia are likely to start the second Test against New Zealand unchanged after all rounder Dan Christian was added to the squad in place of injured 12th man Ben Cutting on Monday.

Pattinson Star in Aussies' Nine Wicket Win [+]

Debutant paceman James Pattinson ripped through New Zealand's top order to fire Australia to an emphatic 9-wicket victory on Day 4 of the first Test.

Clarke's Ton Helps Aussies to 132-run Lead [+]

Michael Clarke posted his first century as Test captain on home soil and guiding Australia to a 132-run first-innings lead on Day 3 against New Zealand.

Ponting Steers Australia With Fifty [+]

Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke have driven Australia to 3-154, 141 runs short of New Zealand's first innings total, when bad light stopped play midway through the final session on the second day at the Gabba.