Third Test: Australia v West Indies Dates: 16-20 December Start time: 0230 GMT Venue: Waca, Perth Coverage: Score updates plus daily reports on BBC Sport website. Also live on Sky Sports.
 McKay gets his chance after two one-day international appearances |
Pace bowler Clint McKay will make his Test debut for Australia in the final match of their best-of-three series against West Indies in Perth. McKay, 26, replaces Peter Siddle, who is suffering from a hamstring strain. Australia have also been forced to call up uncapped leg-spinner Steve Smith as cover because Nathan Hauritz is doubtful with a finger injury. West Indies also have problems, with batsmen Shiv Chanderpaul and Adrian Barath both facing fitness checks. Losing Chanderpaul, a veteran of 123 Tests, and 19-year-old Barath, who made a debut century in the opening Test in Brisbane, would be a massive blow to their chances of squaring the series.  | 606: DEBATE |
If both are ruled out, it would lead to recalls for Travis Dowlin and Narsingh Deonarine, the latter having made the last of his four Test appearances in 2005. Despite that, however, team manager Joel Garner believes West Indies are still capable of giving Australia, who lead the series 1-0, a run for their money. "I think if you have a collective effort on the part of the players, yes, you will get a result," he said. They will be encouraged by Australia having to field a depleted bowling attack.  Chanderpaul is awaiting the results of a scan on a finger injury |
If off-spinner Hauritz is ruled out after being hit on the middle finger of his right hand during the team's final practice session, left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson will be the only member of their attack to play in all three Tests. Including 20-year-old Smith, who has taken 11 wickets in nine first-class matches at a cost of 75 runs each, in the XI would represent a massive gamble by the home side. But chief selector Andrew Hilditch, explaining Smith's call-up ahead of more experienced alternatives like Jason Krezja, said: "He has been identified as an exciting young talent, capable of having a significant impact at international level for Australia. "While he has excited all in recent times for New South Wales with the bat, we consider his skills as a leg-spinner will give good balance to the attack and we are confident he will seize the opportunity if it presents itself in Perth." The other option for Australia would be to include Brett Geeves, who like McKay has played two one-dayers but has yet to experience Test cricket, in an all-seam attack and rely on Marcus North and Michael Clarke to provide any spin they might need.
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