NZ bat first in T20 opener with Smith-less Australia

Steve Smith has been left out of Australia’s side for the opening T20I in New Zealand.

Hosts New Zealand have won the toss and will bat in the opening T20 of a three-game series against trans-Tasman rivals Australia.

Test trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will get first crack with the ball at Wellington’s Sky Stadium on Wednesday night.

There was no room for Steve Smith in the Australia line-up, with captain Mitch Marsh opting for younger talent in his XI.

Marsh wasn’t upset to lose the toss, saying he was planning on bowling on the drop-in pitch anyway.

“We’ve got a number of guys who come back in today,” he said.

“It’s always exciting in a World Cup year these series, you get a good look at guys.”

While Smith is likely to get his chance when the series moves north to Auckland’s Eden Park for games two and three, there is a large question mark over whether he will head to June’s World Cup.

The New Zealand tour is Australia’s last bilateral series before the West Indies and USA-hosted World Cup, and the last chance for hopefuls to impress in an Australian shirt.

Smith is in the gun after comments from Marsh that the top three of the batting order is effectively locked down, with Travis Head and David Warner as openers and himself at first drop.

Smith, 34, is one of the modern greats and has gone to the last three tournaments, including the victorious 2021 campaign.

He missed out on Wednesday with an Australian middle order of Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Tim David and Matthew Short preferred.

Black Caps skipper Mitch Santner has given Josh Clarkson his first cap, with a number of experienced names – including Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell – missing for the world No.2.

“The pitch looks good so we’ll try and get some runs,” he said.

NEW ZEALAND: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Santner (capt), Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson.

AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitch Marsh (capt), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Tim David, Matthew Short, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.