The Caribbean tourists, looking to rediscover their lost clout under Australian taskmaster Bennett King, are likely to unleash a four-pronged speed attack on the seam-friendly Gabba pitch.

The Aussies countered by going for 28-year-old left-arm seamer Bracken to add more firepower and variety to an attack launched by Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath and backed up by all-rounder Shane Watson and champion leg-spinner Shane Warne.

Selectors found Bracken's Gabba form claims irresistible. With high humidity and the prospect of rain during the Test, he won the day over MacGill, who captured nine match wickets in his last Test against a World XI last month.

"Bracken has got a great record up here and he will bowl well on that wicket. There's still a bit of moisture in the surface and maybe a little bit of weather (rain) around, that's the way we've decided to go," skipper Ricky Ponting said Wednesday in announcing his lineup.

Bracken performs well on the Gabba pitch, taking 4-15 for his state New South Wales in a one-dayer against Queensland last month and claiming 6-27 and 2-54 to set up last season's Sheffield Shield final win over Queensland.

"Having done work with (former left-arm Test paceman) Bruce Reid in the past, he's helped me to perform better on wickets and conditions like these," said Bracken, who captured 43 Shield wickets at 18.79 last season.

"I enjoy coming up here and the last three times I've come up here, I've got five, four and six (wickets), so I can't complain."

Ponting is also trying to get the most out of tearaway Brett Lee, whose 22 Test wickets over the last 12 months have come at a cost of 41.73 runs each.

"I had a chat with Brett yesterday. He's working very hard on being able to maintain line and length for longer periods of time in Test cricket, rather than be that out-and-out tearaway," Ponting said.

"He thinks that it will make him a better bowler by being more patient.

"I'll be still wanting him to bowl (with venom) more often than not in the Test, that's his greatest strength, to run in and be able to intimidate batsmen.

"But if he can couple that aggression with some really good line and length disciplined bowling then it will make him a better bowler."

Ponting said the Ashes loss to England was now behind the team but they would pay the unpredictable West Indies the utmost respect during the three-Test series.

"We know they are a very dangerous side and we have spoken about that in our meetings," he said.

"Their batting is very good, they've got quality batsmen right down through their list and we've had a look at their bowlers (on tapes) and most of them can bowl quite quick and there are a lot of guys we haven't seen much before.

"It's a matter for us of winning the first hour of tomorrow's play and keeping the West Indies under pressure for long periods in this game.

"The Ashes loss is a long way behind us and the next time we play for them is a long time ahead of us, and we have to stay right in the present now and make sure we are paying attention to the West Indies team."

TEAMS
AUSTRALIA: Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath.
WEST INDIES (from): Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chander-paul (captain), Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Dinesh Ramdin, Tino Best, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards, Jermaine Lawson, Corey Collymore.
Umpires: Ian Howell and Rudi Koertzen (both South Africans)