Ponting picks his first Test team

Champion batsman Ricky Ponting says the biggest challenge facing Australia's selectors this summer will be the make-up of the fast bowling attack that failed to fire in the Ashes.

Ponting named his side for the first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba for cricket.com.au, picking uncapped opener Cameron Bancroft, but couldn't chose between the four fast men that were used in Australia's unsuccessful Ashes campaign that relinquished the urn for the fourth straight series away from home.

Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson played all five Tests of the Ashes but were at times wayward, unable to fully control the swinging Dukes ball, while Josh Hazlewood missed the final match at The Oval with "minor niggles".

Hazlewood's replacement was veteran seamer Peter Siddle, who took his opportunity with both hands, snaring six wickets in Australia's comprehensive consolation victory, and causing headaches for the national selection panel ahead of the three-Test series against the Black Caps.

"I think they'll (national selection panel) have a big decision to make on their fast bowling group on the back of Siddle's performance in his last Test match," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"It's obviously disappointing for him that Bangladesh hasn't gone ahead because he was going on that tour and interestingly he hasn't played much white-ball cricket over the past couple of weeks.

"It'd be interesting to see what they do with the selection of their fast bowlers, just seeing how well that combination worked in the last Test with Siddle back in the side.

"The combination of Starc, Johnson and Hazlewood probably didn't work as well as they would have hoped at the start of that last Ashes series."

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Question marks surround the fast bowling combo // Getty Images

Siddle bowled with patience and precision in his comeback Test at The Oval, allowing Australia's two rapid left-armer to charge in from the other end in short bursts at maximum velocity.

The 30-year-old was favoured to retain his place for the Test series in Bangladesh with Johnson and Hazlewood rested, but the cancellation of the two-Test tour, and the rejuvenated pair's impressive form in the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup, has the race for Brisbane wide open.

Despite not featuring in Victoria's 50-over campaign to start the domestic season, Siddle will get first crack at New Zealand when he lines up for the Prime Minister's XI in the one-day pink-ball clash at Manuka Oval this Friday, before playing in a two-day tour match for the Cricket Australia XI at the same venue from the following day.

While the fast-bowling attack remains up in the air, Ponting picked a batting group with two changes from the final Test in London and one significant positional shift.

Ponting, who was tonight inducted into the Sports Australia Hall of Fame by ex-teammate and close friend Adam Gilchrist, has opted for Western Australia's Bancroft to partner David Warner as the new-look opening combination, with captain Steve Smith shuffling down the order to No.4 to make way for the returning Usman Khawaja at first drop.

Smith has stated he'll do what's best for the team in regards to where he bats in the line-up, and moving to second-drop balances out the batting order that is light on Test match experience. 

Ponting has Adam Voges retaining his spot at No.5, ahead of classy Queenslander Joe Burns, while allrounder Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill round out his top seven.

Following the conclusion of the Matador Cup on Sunday, where NSW will take on the winner of the elimination final between Victoria and South Australia on Friday, Australia's Test hopefuls will have one round of Sheffield Shield cricket under lights and with a pink ball to impress ahead of the first Test at the Gabba on November 5.

Ponting's first Test XII: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon.