'Unlucky' Marsh dropped for second Test against Windies

Australian top-order batsman Shaun Marsh has been dropped from the Playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against West Indies, which starts from Saturday.

Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja, who was recovering from hamstring injury sustained during the second Test against New Zealand, has been recalled for the second Test against Windies.

With this, Australia will return to the batting line-up they used in Brisbane and Perth, with the captain Steve Smith returning to number four and allowing Khawaja to bat at first down.

Reflecting on Marsh's omission, Smith said that the 32-year-old was 'extremely unlucky' to be dropped, but admitted that the selectors' decision would be in the best interest of the team.

For the visitors, Shannon Gabriel, who has been ruled out of the upcoming match after suffering with a foot injury in Hobart, will be replaced by uncapped bowling all-rounder Carlos Braithwaite, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The Caribbean side are currently trailing 0-1 in the three-match Test series against Australia and the two sides will play their second match in Melbourne followed by third in Sydney.

Australia Playing XI: Joe Burns, David Warner (vc), Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.