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Usman Khawaja replaces Shaun Marsh for Australia's Boxing Day Test

By Dev Trehan

Saturday 26 December 2015 10:07, UK

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Usman Khawaja of Australia celebrates after reaching his half century during day one of the second Test match between Austr
Image: Usman Khawaja returns for Australia in the Boxing Day Test

Shaun Marsh will make way for fit-again Usman Khawaja as Australia look to extend their series lead in the Boxing Day Test against the West Indies in Melbourne.

Despite notching his highest Test score of 182 in Australia's innings and 212 run win over the tourists in the first Hobart Test, selectors have opted to drop Marsh, with Khawaja returning at No. 3 after recovering from a hamstring injury.

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Khawaja scored 174 and 121 in the first two Tests against New Zealand last month and proved his fitness with an explosive 109 off 70 balls in the Big Bash League Twenty20 series last weekend.

Australia faced a dilemma over whether to drop opener Joe Burns and keep Marsh in the side but skipper Steve Smith admitted continuity at the top of the order was a significant factor in the decision of the selectors.

"That was a big part of it," Smith said, while confirming he will drop down to No.4 in the batting order to make way for Khawaja.

Shaun Marsh of Australia celebrates after reaching his century
Image: Marsh misses out despite posting highest Test score in Hobart

"Joe's been playing quite good cricket, he scored a hundred only a couple of Tests ago.

"They (Burns and David Warner) average 80 as a pair and it's pretty important to have a good opening stand.

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"They've been doing a very good job so the selectors thought that was the right way to go."

Australia will play two Test matches in New Zealand in February and Smith admitted that was also a factor in the decision to retain the prolific opening pair of Burns and David Warner.

Australia's Joe Burns (L) celebrates his 100 runs as teammate David Warner looks on during day three of the first Test
Image: Burns (L) and Warner have been in excellent form for Australia

"We were always talking about what's coming up as well," he said.

"There were a lot of conversations around it. Shaun's extremely unlucky to miss out after scoring a brilliant 180 in the last Test match and 49 under a bit of pressure in the Test before that (against New Zealand in Adelaide)."

Smith has been carrying a couple of niggling injuries but the skipper confirmed he is now back to fitness and is raring to go ahead of the second Test.

"My knee is probably feeling as good as its felt all summer so that's all good and the hip has settled down," the 26-year-old said. "I'm good to go."

Watch Australia v West Indies live on Sky Sports 2 HD, with coverage underway on Christmas Day from 11.30pm.

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