Bracken replaces Hodge in Australia side for West Indies

Fast bowler Nathan Bracken has been included in a 12-man Australia squad for the opening Test against West Indies starting in Brisbane on November 3.

The left-arm paceman replaced middle-order batsman Brad Hodge in the only change to the squad that beat the World XI in this month's ICC super Test in Sydney.

Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill kept his place in the squad, giving the selectors the option of playing two wrist spinners after his success bowling in tandem with Shane Warne in Sydney, although he may still be required to carry the drinks.

The pair captured 15 of the 20 World XI wickets that fell in Sydney and although the Gabba pitch in Brisbane is better suited to fast bowling than spin, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said MacGill's inclusion would give them more options.

"Obviously since the end of the super Test in Sydney, there has been a lot of speculation about the option of playing the two spinners in this match against the West Indies," Hohns said in a statement.

"With both Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill in the squad we still have that option, and will assess it closer to time, once we can study the conditions in greater detail."

Bracken, 28, played the last of his three Tests against India in January 2004 but was recalled to bolster Australia's depleted pace attack.

"Heading to Brisbane, we felt it was prudent to introduce another paceman to the squad in place of an extra batsman," Hohns said.

There had been some concerns about the form of Australia's middle-order batsmen but they were put to rest earlier this week when Michael Clarke and Simon Katich both smashed centuries in the domestic first-class competition.

"That's no reflection on Brad Hodge, but in this instance we felt for the purposes of flexibility in the attack, Nathan Bracken would provide us with another bowling option depending on the conditions that might prevail at the Gabba," Hohns said.