New Zealand announce playing XI for 1st Test vs Australia

New Zealand have announced their playing XI for the first Test against Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane, which will take place on Thursday. There were no major surprise in the team. Jimmy Neesham makes it into the team for the first time since playing a Test in January 2015. Tm Latham and Martin Guptill will continue to open followed by Kane Williamson, who has been in tremendous form of late. Ross Taylor, Jimmy Neesham and skipper Brendon McCullum make a formidable middle-order. BJ Watling will be the wicketkeeper for the match, which means that Luke Ronchi will miss out. Scorecard: Australia vs New Zealand, 1st Test at Brisbane

Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee and Trent Boult will be the the pacers, who will lead the the pace attack with Mark Craig being the lone spinner for the side. New Zealand are coming at the back of a Test series against England, which they played in June2015. Some of the big guns like McCullum, Boult and Southee were rested for the limited-overs fixture against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

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Australia too had announced their playing XI earlier today where the only change was the inclusion of Josh Hazlewood in the team in place of Peter Siddle. Siddle has been named the 12th man of the team. READ: Australia announce playing XI for 1st Test against New Zealand; Josh Hazlewood replaces Peter Siddle

New Zealand playing XI against Australia 1st Test vs Australia: Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (c), Jimmy Neesham, BJ Watling (wk), Mark Craig, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.

Scorecard: India vs South Africa 2015, 1st Test at Mohali