`Unlucky` Marsh dropped for second Test against Windies

Australia have made no secret of their desire to continue their dominance over the Windies as they chase South Africa’s title as the No. 1 ranked Test nation.

Bravo said his teammates had trouble adapting to the Australian conditions in Hobart, but said the team was ready to back itself in the second match of the three-Test series.

After securing a maiden century on his home soil at the Gabba in the series opener against New Zealand as Chris Rogers’ successor partnering David Warner, the 26-year-old Queenslander has only scored 98 runs in his five innings since.

“Things have to play into our hands as well with South Africa’s series against England”.

“It felt like, from our point of view… they did go through the motions when we were batting on that day when we batted big”.

Usman Khawaja has recovered from a hamstring injury and the big question facing Australian selectors is whether to include him for the second Test against the West Indies.

Burns frets on Test spot as Khawaja set to return Australia opening batsman Joe Burns said yesterday he is unsure where he sits in the Test selection showdown against Shaun Marsh following the likely recall of Usman Khawaja to the side.

The selectors opted to keep Burns over Marsh, valuing continuity at the top of the order.

Australia put into bat first, Joe Burns nudges one to the boundary.

“We’re always talking about what is coming up as well”.

His batting has been less noteworthy, however, and his top score in the last seven tests was a 34 against New Zealand in the drawn match in Perth.

Australia trained on Christmas Day, while the visitors had the day off. “I might have a hit indoors in the morning to get a bit of confidence up before play”.

A ticket on day one of the Boxing Day Test will cost a full-paying adult $40 for a reserved seat, dropping to $35 for days two to four.

Under fire from all quarters after an abysmal start to their tour, West Indies have pledged to be more competitive at the traditional Boxing Day Test but will struggle to prevent hosts Australia from taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

But Burns and Warner average 88.86 as an opening combination and Smith said that played a part in the decision. “It’s up to our administration and our bosses to find out how is the best way that we can get these guys on the pitch”.

In response, West Indies coach Phil Simmons said improving the team’s body language had become a real focus, and he will hope any improvement in that aspect of their game will be reflected in their actual performance. If we could be a lot more disciplined when we get new batsmen to the crease, especially those kinds of positions, then we’d be a lot better off. We have to be a lot more disciplined than we were in that first Test match.