Bird the word for first Test in NZ

Jackson Bird will play his first Test since mid-2013 after being named in Australia's XI for the first Test against New Zealand, with selectors opting not to risk fellow quick James Pattinson.

Captain Steve Smith said selectors were not 100 per cent confident Pattinson was fit enough to resume his place in the side after shin soreness kept him out of action for nearly a month following the third Test against the West Indies in January.

The Victorian returned for the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania last week but was withdrawn by Cricket Australia midway through the match to fly out to Wellington to prepare for the series. He bowled 21.3 overs across the first two days of the match at the MCG, taking 3-81.

"The selectors aren't 100 percent sure whether (Pattinson) would get through this first Test match," Smith said. "So that decision was made.

"I think Jackson Bird has been bowling extremely well. I saw him for the first time in the nets yesterday and I thought he bowled extremely well

"I'm really happy with the XI we've picked and hopefully we can have a successful week."

Quick Single: Aussies unveil secret weapon in Wellington

Bird has played three Tests for Australia, the last of which was in Durham in 2013, and has battled back problems since then.

But the 29-year-old is back to full fitness this summer and has taken 25 wickets from six Shield matches this season. 

"He's always performed really well at Shield level and I think it's great that he gets another opportunity," Smith said.

"He's bowling with quite good pace, he's hitting a good area and he's swinging the ball and swinging it late, which is a great attribute to have.

"If he can get the ball in the right areas in this Test match I think he can do a bit of damage.

"He runs in all day, he's quite tall so he hits the bat a little bit higher than you think and he generally hits good areas

"I think that's really important in this Test series, particularly if the wickets are going to do a little bit. If we keep hitting those good areas, we're going to create a lot of chances and I think he can do that for us."

Aussies focus on fielding for first Test

Australia head into the match with an unchanged batting line-up - with Shaun Marsh missing out - while fast bowler Peter Siddle returns to the side after missing the SCG Test due to an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, New Zealand have named Henry Nicholls to debut at number four in the Black Caps' batting line-up, while Mark Craig is also back in the XI.

The pitch at the Basin Reserve is expected to retain some of the significant grass cover it had on match eve and Smith said his batting line-up would have to be on alert following disappointing performances in similar conditions during the Ashes last year.

"We haven't been good enough with the bat on wickets that have been doing a bit in the last year or so," he said.

"The wicket here looks like it might do a bit so we've got a bit to prove and we've got to adapt accordingly, a lot better than we have in recent times."

Exclusive: Boof's blog ahead of the first Test

Australia XI: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird

New Zealand XI: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson, BJ Watling, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Mark Craig, Doug Bracewell