Australia have lost the services of five of their main cricketers for the first Test match against New Zealand.
There will be no Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson at the top of the Australian innings, while the bowling will be without pace bowlers Mitchell Johnson, Patrick Cummins and Ryan Harris.
Marsh injured his back before the start of the second Test match against South Africa and missed the game, as did Harris. Watson, on the other hand, was injured during the second Test match and did not bowl too many overs. Cummins and Johnson also had fitness issues in that second Test match and have been ruled out of the first Test.
Australia will play their first home Test match of the season against New Zealand at Brisbane from December 1.
With the five ruled out, there will be places up for grabs and likes of Dave Warner and James Pattinson could make their Test match debuts. Trent Copeland, who had played in the Tests in Sri Lanka, should also be recalled, while Usman Khawaja will continue to bat in the middle-order in place of Marsh.
Doug Bollinger could be recalled into the squad, although he may not make it to the playing 11.
New Zealand have not won a single Test match against Australia since 1992-93, a record that Kiwi skipper Ross Taylor will want to erase.
