Australia bowl, McGrath replaces injured Litchfield

Batter Phoebe Litchfield has been ruled out of the T20I series-opener, with allrounder Tahlia McGrath named in Australia's XI against a new-look New Zealand at North Sydney Oval.

Having missed the final ODI against Bangladesh on Wednesday with a low-grade hip muscle strain, Litchfield will not start the three-match series, which is Australia's return to the format since reclaiming the T20 World Cup title in July.

McGrath's inclusion for Litchfield is Australia's only change from the XI that beat England in the World Cup final.

Captain Sophie Molineux will make her return after missing the three-match Bangladesh series with a hip issue, while left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton has overcome a quad injury.

Hamilton's inclusion means Megan Schutt misses out after taking 10 wickets in three matches against Bangladesh.

It's a new era for New Zealand after the retirements of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu following the T20 World Cup. They boast a very young squad under skipper Melie Kerr, who will bat at No. 3.

Wicketkeeper-batter Izzy Gaze was unavailable for selection after thumb surgery, with Polly Inglis to take the gloves in her absence.

Australia: 1 Beth Mooney (wk), 2 Georgia Voll, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Ash Gardner, 5 Georgia Wareham, 6 Annabel Sutherland, 7 Nicola Carey, 8 Tahlia McGrath, 9 Sophie Molineux (capt), 10 Kim Garth, 11 Lucy Hamilton.

New Zealand: 1 Georgia Plimmer, 2 Flora Devonshire, 3 Melie Kerr (capt), 4 Maddy Green, 5 Izzy Sharp, 6 Brooke Halliday, 7 Jess Kerr, 8 Polly Inglis (wk), 9 Rosemary Mair, 10 Nensi Patel, 11 Bree Illing.