Australia have selected uncapped 22-year-old fast bowler Shaun Tait to replace Jason Gillespie for the fourth Ashes Test starting on Thursday.

"The ball is swinging around here and it will be even more difficult for anyone to combat him and play him in these conditions," Australia captain Ricky Ponting [Images] told a news conference.

"Dizzy [Gillespie] has gone for a few anyway. He hasn't been at his best and hasn't been able to contain batsmen. Taity might go for a few runs but he has that out-and-out wicket-taking ability."

Gillespie took three wickets at 100 runs apiece in the first three Tests. The series against England [Images] stands at 1-1, with Australia needing one more win in the last two matches to be sure of retaining the Ashes.

Tait, who has only played 27 first-class games but impressed with his express pace for South Australia last year, has a slingy action and can swing the ball. He was picked ahead of seamer Michael Kasprowicz, who played in the second Test when Glenn McGrath was injured.

He is expected to be the only change in the Australia line-up from the third Test.

Tait will be told to concentrate on attack whatever the cost.

"He might go for a few but if we set the right fields for him and use him and Brett [Lee] in shorter bursts in the next two games then we will be able to cope well," Ponting added.

"It's very exciting. We have all been excited at the prospect of him playing at some stage in this Ashes tour.

"It has been hard work facing him in the nets over the last couple of months. He is a young bloke dying to have a crack at cricket at the highest level.

"I watched him in the last tour game and he bowled lots of bouncers and yorkers.

"This morning he hit Justin [Langer] with a full toss in the groin region. The next one got him on the arm and one cannoned into his stumps. He might not have the best control but when it gets it right he is very dangerous."