New South Wales young gun Steve Smith has been picked for Australia's Test tour of New Zealand along with Blues opener Phil Hughes, Queensland quick Ryan Harris and the out-of-form Marcus North.
Vice-captain Michael Clarke has also been named just two days after rushing home from the one-day leg of the New Zealand tour for personal reasons.
Selectors on Wednesday chose a 14-man squad for the two-Test tour, which begins on Friday week at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, and have rushed 20-year-old all-rounder Smith in following two recent hundreds at Sheffield Shield level, including last week's 177 against Tasmania.
"Steve Smith has had an excellent Shield season, including a big century against Tasmania recently, and of course has already demonstrated his ability to cope with the pressure of international cricket," said National Selection Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch.
"He adds great flexibility to the squad with his exciting stroke-play, leg-spin bowling and gifted fielding."
After scoring a century on debut last year in South Africa and reaching triple figures three times in his first six Tests, North endured a poor run during the recent Australian summer with two half-centuries in his first three games his best scores as he managed only 207 runs at an average of just 23.
But selectors have kept faith with the squad that won five of the six Tests on home soil against the West Indies and Pakistan, with North almost certainly on his last chance if he does retain his place for the first Test.
With Peter Siddle sidelined by a stress fracture in his back and Ben Hilfenhaus (knee) still unavailable as well, selectors have also rewarded Harris for his fine recent form in the one-day arena, having grabbed 27 wickets in 10 games since Australia Day.
"Ryan Harris, having overcome injuries at the start of the season, has played really well for Australia in the shorter formats of the game," Hilditch added.
"The NSP are confident that if Ryan gets an opportunity he has the ability to have an impact for Australia in what will be a very hard Test series against New Zealand."
And Hughes, who scored twin hundreds in just his second Test against the Proteas but was then dropped after the second Test in England before standing in for the injured Simon Katich in Sydney in January, also gets another chance.
"Phillip Hughes has also been in excellent form at state level and richly deserves his selection on the back of another fantastic season in the Sheffield Shield," Hilditch said.
Australian Test squad:
Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (v-c), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Clint McKay, Marcus North, Steven Smith, Shane Watson