Steve Smith, in his first test series as Australia captain, won the toss in overcast conditions Thursday and followed convention at the Gabba by batting first.Warner and Burns dug in and defended to see off a challenging opening spell from new-ball pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult before lifting the run-rate against the change bowlers.
Burns, elevated to open on his home ground after batting at No. 6 in his first two tests, was unbeaten on 43 at the interval.
He took 19 balls to get off the mark, which he did with a boundary, and was tested early by the full length bowling from Southee and Boult before settling into a rhythm and getting comfortable when offspinner Mark Craig was introduced to the attack in the 13th over.
The opening pair reached triple figures two minutes before lunch, a total that initially seemed out of range in the session after the first seven overs yield eight runs.
Warner was also unusually subdued at the start of his innings, determined to establish a combination with Burns after the retirement of long-time opening partner Chris Rodgers.
His first boundary came off an edge past the slips off Boult in the eighth over and he fell to his knees on the the pitch after digging out a superb yorker in the same over.
But the Australians started to assert themselves after Southee conceded his first boundary with an overpitched ball in the ninth over, and Warner started to get his eye in despite some experimental fielding changes from New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who switched from an 8-1 field to a 5-4 legside field on consecutive balls.
Both batsmen showed their intent by stepping down the wicket to Craig after the first drinks break. Warner hit Doug Bracewell for a four and a straight driven six in three balls to move to 49 and then posted his 50 with an all-run four in the next over. His half century contained eight boundaries and a six.
Australia hasn't lost a test at the Gabba since 1988 and hasn't lost to New Zealand here since 1985. The New Zealanders haven't won a test series in Australia since '85.
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