Australia replace Peter Siddle with spinner Stephen O'Keefe for third Test

Sydney, 2 January - New South Wales (NSW) spinner Stephen O'Keefe was on Saturday called in to Australia's XI for the third cricket Test against the West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting on Sunday.

O'Keefe replaces Victorian pacer Peter Siddle who is still nursing an ankle injury he sustained in the first Test.

It is the only change that the Australians have made to the Boxing Day Test XI that beat the West Indies by 177 runs in Melbourne.

"Peter Siddle felt it wasn't best for him to come into this Test match the way he is at the moment. He is still a little bit sore. He'll have a rest for a couple of weeks and hopefully get himself right for (the upcoming tour of) New Zealand," captain Steve Smith was quoted as saying by a sports website on Saturday.

"He's a great team man and felt he would be letting the team down (if he played). We were probably going to go the two spinners option anyway."

Smith expects the pitch to turn, noting the wicket "looks quite dry"."So I think it'll take some spin," the captain said.

Agency