Joe Burns has been handed a recall at the top of the Australian batting order, with selectors preferring him to the uncapped Cameron Bancroft for next Thursday’s first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba.

Following a spate of post-Ashes retirements, the Test team will take a new look this summer, with the Burns brought in to open at Test level for the first time and with Usman Khawaja returning to bat at number three.

“Joe thoroughly deserves his chance and was unlucky to miss out on the West Indies and Ashes tours off the back of two decent performances in his last Test match for Australia in Sydney,” chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said.

“Usman is a very good player of fast bowling and is a fine technician. We feel he will make a really solid contribution towards our batting this series.”

• Cricket Australia sticks to its guns on pink ball
• New pink cricket ball ‘makes the game boring’
• Warne returns to suburban cricket

It is likely one of Peter Siddle or Josh Hazlewood will be named 12th man, with the other to make up the pace attack alongside Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson, while Adam Voges and Mitch Marsh have retained their spots from the fifth Test of the 2015 Ashes in England.

“We are pleased with how our bowling unit is going at the moment. Both Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood had fantastic performances in the Matador Cup and Mitchell Johnson looks ready to fire after a decent break,” Marsh said.

“Off the back of a great bowling performance in the last Test, Peter Siddle earns his selection with Nathan Lyon, a proven performer in the side rounding out our attack.”

The first Test will also mark Steve Smith and David Warner’s first as full-time captain and vice-captain respectively, while it will be a first on Australian soil for Voges and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

“We will need to play at our best to beat a very talented New Zealand side, but we think this squad has the goods to do it and also provides an opportunity for some exciting younger players to make their mark in the Test arena,” Marsh added.