Shane Watson ruled out of first Test against South Africa

Australia's top order batsman Shaun Marsh will replace all-rounder Shane Watson ahead of the three-match Test series in South Africa beginning February 12.

Cricket Australia (CA) on Saturday announced that left-handed bat Marsh will travel to South Africa as soon as possible after Watson was ruled out of the first Test with a right calf complaint.

"Shaun has now recovered from injury and the national selection panel has selected him to join the squad in South Africa in light of Shane Watson not being available for the first Test with a calf injury," CA national selector John Inverarity said in a statement.

The first Test against South Africa gets underway Wednesday at Centurion Park, Pretoria.