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With Bernard Tomic banned for the tie after an outburst aimed
at Tennis Australia officials, the 19-year-old was preferred to
big-serving Sam Groth for Friday's singles rubber against the
world number 63.
"I just think he's the real deal," captain Wally Masur said of
the world number 69 at a news conference in the capital of the
Northern Territory.
"He's cool under pressure. The guy can play. He's got a touch of
class."
World number 41 Nick Kyrgios will face Kazakhstan's Aleksandr
Nedovyesov in the second singles match despite being forced off
the training court on Wednesday with a thigh problem.
Groth will, however, team up with former world number one
Lleyton Hewitt in the doubles against Nedovyesov and Andrey
Golubev on the purpose-built grass court.
"Ultimately you just make decision based on form when the guys
hit the ground here in Darwin," Masur said of his choices for
the singles.
"They're all hitting the ball really well, but yeah, I was kind
of spoilt for choice."
Australia have won the Davis Cup 28 times but they last reached
the semi-finals in 2006 and their last title came in 2003 when
Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis helped beat Spain in the final.
Kazakhstan are bidding to reach the last four for the first
time.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by John O'Brien)
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