Josh Hazlewood gets the nod to start Australia's first Test of the home summer

There had been suggestions that Boland might leapfrog Hazlewood into starting XI for the opening Test with the latter having last played international cricket in October due to injuries.

There had also been thoughts that both could make the team if Australia leave out spinner Nathan Lyon and opt for an all-out pace attack but Cummins batted away those suggestions.

"I think we were pretty certain we wanted Lyno (Lyon) inside, so just kind of working out what the make-up of the quicks were," Cummins told the media on the eve of the first Test in Darwin.

"So went with Joshy, we obviously know Scotty's class. It's always a pretty tight call. I think it's one of those ones where there's not much you can say to Scotty other than obviously there's a lot of cricket coming up, but he knows his worth and how good he is, and I'm sure he'll be out there at some point pretty soon."

The Aussies have also included Cameron Green and Beau Webster in the XI, where both seam-allrounders competed for one spot previously.

Green will fill the role of number 5 in the batting order following the retirement of Usman Khawaja while Webster will slot in at number 7, behind wicketkeeper Alax Carey.

"Kez (Carey) has won a few games for us at No. 6. I like that combination of him and Webster at six, seven," Cummins said. "I feel like Greeny's a good No. 5, so you can try and get funky, but we thought that's kind of how the team will function the best.

"It's a pretty good problem to have when someone like Kez, you feel like a good bat even higher than where he's at."

Alongside Boland, Josh Inglis is the other player from the initial squad not to make the starting XI.

Australia Test XI: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (captain), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood