O'Keefe replaces Siddle for third Test

Omnisports 05:47 - 01 January 2016

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Australia have opted for two spinners for the third and final Test against West Indies, with Stephen O'Keefe replacing injured paceman Peter Siddle.

Left-armer O'Keefe joins fellow spinner Nathan Lyon in the XI for Sunday's clash at the SCG in Sydney after Siddle failed to overcome an ankle problem sustained during the 177-run win in the Boxing Day Test.

O'Keefe, 31, played his one and only Test against Pakistan in October 2014, taking four wickets.

Australia - leading 2-0 and looking to claim a series sweep - are now set to field two specialist spin bowlers for the first time since 2006.

"He [Siddle] felt it wasn't best for him to come into this Test match the way he is at the moment," captain Steve Smith said on Saturday.

"He's a great team man and felt he would be letting the team down [if he played].

"He'll have a rest for a couple of weeks and hopefully get himself right for [the upcoming tour of] New Zealand.

"We were probably going to go the two spinners option anyway."

Australia: Joe Burns, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Stephen O'Keefe, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, David Warner, Adam Voges.