Warner, Khawaja put Australia in command against Kiwis in Brisbane

Usman Khawaja’s dismissal for 174 prompted Australia skipper Steve Smith to declare midway through the second afternoon of day two, and New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Martin Guptill survived 13 overs until the tea interval unscathed.

Earlier, the Black Caps were dismissed for 317 in their first innings, Kane Williamson top-scoring with 140.

Burns, opening the innings after batting at number six in his previous two Test appearances against India last home season, made the most of his opportunity after being bypassed by selectors for this year’s Ashes series in England. Mitchell Johnson had figures of 3-105, having B.J. Watling (32) caught behind with his first ball of the morning.

The New Zealand bowlers weren’t helped by a relatively flat wicket and a lack of swing – with only Tim Southee (1-63) and James Neesham (1-36) snaring wickets – and the fielding was uncharacteristically sloppy. Johnson angled one across Taylor’s body and Steven Smith, the Australian captain, took a regulation catch at second slip.

Australia resumed on 389 for two, a record tally for the opening day of a test at the Gabba, and Smith looked keen to get the scoreboard moving as quickly as possible. “I think it’s always important as an opening batsman just to come out here and do a good job”.

“He’s bowling fantastically, bowling with great aggression, pace and bounce”.

The tourists revealed that Southee had left the field with an irritated disc and would continue to be assessed. “There are quite a few Burns here who went down to Melbourne and to Sydney to watch him perform”, Reg Burns said.

Teammate Nathan Lyon said later the robust Warner was not used to being overtaken by his partner – but he surely would not have minded, particularly as Warner for the third time in his Test career would notch successive centuries in the one match.

“The key for us now is to keep forging and building those partnerships – we have two fighters at the crease who’ve had a lot of success together”.

It was a key toss to win, with both captains keen to bat first on an excellent surface at the Gabba.

Khawaja was out to a reverse sweep, spooning Kane Williamson’s part-time spin to Guptill at backward point for 174.

Smith echoed opener David Warner when he derided New Zealand’s “nice guy act”, but he said hostilities would be put on hold – for one Test only – when the teams share a dressing-room beer after the Brisbane Test as part of Anzac commemorations.

New Zealand had something to celebrate in the 39th over, when Southee – returning after half an hour off the field – induced an edge from Burns which was snapped up by wicketkeeper BJ Watling diving to his right.