Australia captain Pat Cummins has named an unchanged starting XI for this week's first Test against New Zealand in Wellington, which begins on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters at Basin Reserve on Wednesday, Cummins had selected the same team that Australia lost to West Indies in Brisbane last month and admitted there were “no surprises” in the starting XI.
“It's always nice to have a full contingent to choose from,” Cummins said.
“I don’t feel like we need to reinvent the wheel.”
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Steve Smith will line up alongside Usman Khawaja, with Cameron Green batting at number four, while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood round out Australia's experienced pace attack.
“Obviously it's a bit of a shake-up with Smadge (Smith) at the top, but I think we'll soon see if this is the best balance for the team,” Khawaja told reporters in Wellington on Tuesday.
“And if we need to make changes, we will make them.
“But at the moment the sample size is still very small and we've only played two Test matches against this team, so we probably need to give them a little more time.
“Batting with Smithy didn’t change anything for me.
“I batted with him a lot growing up. I was No. 3 for Australia for a long time and he was No. 4, so we used to bat together a lot.
“Even if I go outside and open it, I don't feel any discomfort.”
Smith currently averages 60.00 as a Test opener, having scored an unbeaten 91 in Brisbane's thrilling defeat to West Indies last month.
“Opening is always a challenge,” Khawaja continued.
“The challenge is always there because you're playing against the best bowlers every time with a new ball and sometimes you're playing against the freshest wicket if you're out in the first innings.
“There's no easy run when you start. Sometimes you miss the No. 4 and No. 5 batters.
“But that's one thing I think Stephen Smith is more capable of as a batsman than anyone else in the world. He's right up there as the best Test cricketer of this generation. So the opener If there's anyone who can score goals in this season, it's Steve Smith.
“So no matter where you hit him, he's definitely going to score. It's that simple.”
11 Australians to play first Test vs New Zealand
Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazle wood
Meanwhile, New Zealand opener Devon Conway was ruled out of the first Test due to a thumb injury sustained in the recent T20 series against Australia, with Henry Nicholls joining the team as batting cover in his place.
Black Caps captain Tim Southee confirmed that rising star Rachin Ravindra, who injured his left knee during the T20 series, has been cleared to play in the series opener, but did not reveal New Zealand's starting XI.
The first Test between New Zealand and Australia will begin on Thursday at 9am AEDT.
