Marsh makes way for Khawaja

Shaun Marsh has been dropped from Australia's starting XI to make way for the returning Usman Khawaja for tomorrow's Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia captain Steve Smith confirmed the XI at his captain's press conference on the eve of the second Commonwealth Bank Test against the West Indies, with national selectors opting for a 'last in, first out' policy, allowing Joe Burns to keep his place at the top of the order.

Smith will bat at number four, with Khawaja to return to the No.3 spot he started to lay long-term claims to during the recent series against New Zealand.

Khawaja's return is the only change to the side which cruised to a thumping win over West Indies in the first Test in Hobart, with Australia sticking to the pace attack of Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle and James Pattinson, leaving uncapped Victorian seamer Scott Boland on the sidelines.

Smith said Marsh was "very unlucky" to miss out, with stability at the top of the order behind the decision.

"That was a big part of it, Joe’s been playing quite good cricket, he scored a hundred only a couple of Tests ago," Smith said.

"I think they (Burns and Warner) average 80 as a pair and it’s important to have a good opening stand so the selectors thought that was the right way to go.

"There’s been a lot of conversations around it, Shaun is obviously really unlucky to miss out after a brilliant 180 in last test match and 49 under a bit of pressure in Test before. There’s been lots of talks about it just and they just believe that’s the best way to go going forward."

Smith said Australia's three-day win in Hobart meant his pace attack was well-rested for Melbourne.

"It all happened pretty quickly to win in three days so they got that extra rest. They’re all bowing really well so we’ll stick to the same attack."

Boland will be available to play for the Melbourne Stars in their KFC Big Bash League match against Sydney Sixers at the SCG on December 27, while Marsh will be available to play for the Scorchers against the Renegades at Etihad Stadium on December 30.

It is an incredibly unlucky end to Marsh's sixth stint in the Test side.

The Western Australian's rich vein of form since replacing the injured Khawaja for the third Test against New Zealand – including a composed 49 in the second innings against the Black Caps and a superb 182 against the West Indies in Hobart - was not enough for the left-hander to retain his spot in the XI.

Watch: Marsh's epic in Hobart

Khawaja was always considered a walk-up start for the Boxing Day XI if fully recovered from a hamstring tear, having scored twin tons in Brisbane and Perth at the start of the summer. He made a dream return from injury on Sunday, scoring an unbeaten ton for Sydney Thunder in the KFC Big Bash League.

Watch: Khawaja starts summer in perfect fashion

However it was less clear which of Marsh or Burns would make way for the Queenslander. Burns scored his maiden century at the Gabba last month, but has scored 114 runs at 19 since.

Burns was Australia's first choice to form a new opening partnership with Test vice-captain David Warner in the wake of Chris Rogers' retirement after the winter Ashes. The pair already have three century stands between them from seven innings and ultimately, selectors have opted to take a long-term view of the selection conundrum, choosing stability at the top of the batting order.

Watch: Burns posts maiden Test century

The West Indies will hold off on naming their XI until tomorrow morning.

Allrounder Carlos Brathwaite is in the box seat to replace injured quick Shannon Gabriel in the tourists' line-up, with captain Jason Holder telling reporters on Thursday that Brathwaite was most likely ahead of fast bowler Miguel Cummins in the pecking order. 

Brathwaite, 27, has played seven ODIs for the West Indies and will make his Test debut if selected ahead of Cummins, who was added to the squad following Gabriel's injury.

Legspinner Devendra Bishoo is also pushing his claims for a recall, with selectors likely to wait until a Saturday morning pitch inspection before finalising their line-up.

Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh(12th).