Windies allrounder in line for call up

West Indies allrounder Carlos Brathwaite is in the box seat to replace injured quick Shannon Gabriel in the tourists' line-up for the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG.

Skipper Jason Holder told reporters on Thursday that Brathwaite was most likely ahead of fast bowler Miguel Cummins in the pecking order as the Windies look to replace Gabriel, who injured an ankle in the first Commonwealth Bank Test in Hobart.

"We've got to look at everything - obviously Carlos is an allrounder and Miguel is just an out-and-out fast bowler," Holder said.

"Carlos has been in the squad for a little while now and he's waited for his opportunity, so he's probably pretty much front line to go in ahead of Miguel.

"But we'll see how the conditions look tomorrow."

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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 lineup.

Holder's team copped a barrage of criticism following their diabolical display in the comprehensive first Test defeat, but the skipper said the mood in the tourists' camp remains upbeat.

"I think we're just one good performance from turning things around," he said. "That's the way we have to look at it. We can't be negative all the time, we just have to find ways to pick ourselves up.

"We're just one good day from a turnaround and that's the way I'm taking it going forward.

"We have to make runs, we have to take wickets and when chances come our way in the field we've got to take them - that's as simple as it is."