Australian captain Pat Cummins has named an unchanged beginning XI for this week’s first Test towards New Zealand in Wellington, which will get underway on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters on the Basin Reserve on Wednesday, Cummins confirmed there can be “no surprises” within the beginning XI, with Australia choosing the identical workforce that misplaced to the West Indies in Brisbane final month.

Steve Smith will open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja with Cameron Green slotting in at No. 4, whereas Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood spherical out Australia’s skilled tempo assault.

“It’s obviously a bit of a reshuffle with Smudge (Smith) at the top, but I’ll think we’re figure out pretty soon whether this is the best balance of the team or not,” Khawaja advised reporters in Wellington on Tuesday.

“And then if we need to make changes, then we will.

“But at the moment there’s still such a small sample size, there’s only been two Test matches with this team so we probably need to give it a little bit more time.

“It hasn’t been different for me batting with Smithy.

“I batted with him heaps growing up, I was number three for Australia for a long time and he was number four so we batted together a lot.

“It doesn’t really feel any different when we go out and open.”

Watch Australia v New Zealand Test Series on Kayo Sports. Every Test, ODI and T20I Live with no advert breaks throughout play. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

Smith presently averages 60.00 as a Test opener, having scored an unbeaten 91 throughout final month’s thrilling loss to the West Indies in Brisbane.

“Opening is always a challenge,” Khawaja continued.

“You’re facing the best bowlers every single time with the new ball, sometimes the freshest wickets if you go out there in the first innings so the challenge is always there.

“There’s no easy runs to be had at the start. It’s what I miss about batting four and five sometimes.

“But it’s one of those things where I think Stephen Smith is as capable a batsman of anyone in the world. He’s right up there as the best Test cricketer of this generation. So if anyone’s going to score runs at opening, it’s Steve Smith.

“So there’s no doubt whether you can bat him anywhere, he’ll score runs. It’s as simple as that.”

Australia XI for 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 Hazlewood

Meanwhile, New Zealand opener Devon Conway has been ruled out of the first Test because of a thumb harm he sustained in the course of the latest T20 sequence towards Australia, with Henry Nicholls changing him within the squad as batting cowl.

Black Caps captain Tim Southee confirmed rising star Rachin Ravindra had been cleared to play the sequence opener after damaging his left knee in the course of the T20 sequence, however didn’t reveal the New Zealand beginning XI.

The first Test between New Zealand and Australia will get underway on Thursday at 9am AEDT.