Steve Smith has won the toss at the SCG, where Australia will bat first in the fourth Test against India.

“There’s a little bit less grass on the wicket than last year. I think it’s going to play pretty well throughout the five days,” Smith said.

Shane Watson overcame a stomach bug to play, with the one change to the XI being Mitchell Starc’s promotion at the expense of fellow left-armer Mitchell Johnson (hamstring).

Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar trophy in Melbourne, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series.

Virat Kohli, appointed captain following MS Dhoni’s retirement from Test cricket, wasted little time in stamping his authority on the team.

Shikhar Dhawan, who reportedly clashed with Kohli in the Gabba changerooms, was one of three men dropped.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ishant Sharma were also omitted, while Dhoni was replaced by Wriddhiman Saha.

Recalled Rohit Sharma is set to bat at first drop in a reshuffled Indian order, while Suresh Raina and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also earned call-ups.

Australia XI: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Steve Smith (capt), Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India XI: Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Rohit Shrama, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.