Steve Smith back for Aussies as they bat in second Test

Australia's Steve Smith
Steve Smith has been declared fit to bat at No.4 in the second Test against West Indies. -AP

Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first in the second Test against West Indies in Grenada, with Steve Smith ready to make a remarkable return just 20 days after suffering a nasty compound dislocation of his finger..

Captain Pat Cummins chose to insert his side at St George's on Thursday (Friday AEST) as Australia hunt a series-clinching victory at a ground where they've never before played a Test match. 

Australia, who won the first Test by 159 runs in Barbados, have lost only one of their last 22 men's Tests against West Indies and victory at the island country's National Stadium would be the 58th unique venue at which they have won a Test match.

With just one previous visit to Grenada for an ODI back in 2008 – Australia will retain the Frank Worrell Trophy, which they have held since 1995, if they back up their 159-run win in the first Test.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald called it "a step into the unknown," with just four Test matches played at St George's. 

And Cummins' decision goes against the grain of recent history - all three previous Test victories at the ground have been earned by the side batting second on a surface that often produces help for pace rather than spin.

The 36-year-old Smith batted for almost an hour in his first training session since rejoining the Test squad last Sunday as he acclimatised to wearing a protective splint after dislocating his right little finger during the World Test Championship final.

He will bat at No.4 to bolster Australia's top order with Cummins confirming Smith would replace Josh Inglis, who played two poor shots to get out in the first Test win last week.

A win will give Australia their fourth straight series win after beating India (3-1) at home and Sri Lanka (2-0) and New Zealand (2-0) away.

For West Indies, Kraigg Brathwaite will become the 10th West Indies player to play 100 Test matches when he reaches the milestone in Grenada.

Six players have scored Test centuries in Grenada, including 32-year-old Brathwaite. Chris Gayle is the only player with a double-century.

Teams:

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, 5 Shai Hope (wk), Roston Chase (capt), Justin Greaves, Anderson Phillip, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.