Australia spearhead Starc back after three-month injury absence

Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc makes his long-awaited return from injury Wednesday after being included in Australia's team to face a New Zealand XI in a World Cup warm-up match at Brisbane.

Starc has missed three months of cricket with a muscle tear, but is back for the second clash this week against their understrength trans-Tasman neighbours in a practice game not counted as a full international.

Australia won the first by one wicket, which marked the international return of Steve Smith and David Warner after their year-long bans for a major ball-tampering scandal expired.

They were both selected again, while Nathan Lyon and Glenn Maxwell return as coach Justin Langer rotates his squad ahead of their upcoming World Cup defence in England. Pat Cummins is rested.

There was no coin toss, with New Zealand bowling first by mutual agreement.

Teams

Australia XI: Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Michael Nesar, Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Nathan Lyon

New Zealand XI: Hamish Rutherford, George Worker, Will Young, Tom Latham, Jimmy Neesham, Tom Blundell, Daryl Mitchell, Todd Astle, Doug Bracewell, Blair Tickner, Hamish Bennett