Martin Love ready to retire

Martin Love, who played five Tests for Australia and is Queensland's highest run-scorer, will retire from first-class cricket at the end of the season. Love, 34, said his battles with injury over the years had prompted the move.

"After seven operations and countless broken fingers, my body is telling me that enough is enough," Love said. "I've had a wonderful time playing cricket for Queensland and playing in an era that was a golden one for Australian cricket and I will move on to the next phase of my life with no regrets."

Love appeared in five Tests for Australia between 2002 and 2003, scoring 233 runs at 46.60, but couldn't retain his place even though he scored a century, 100 against Bangladesh in Cairns, in his final innings. He lost his spot to Damien Martyn when he returned from injury and Love never played for Australia again.

Love will be remembered for his prolific career with Queensland, which began in 1992-93 as an 18-year old, and his graceful strokeplay. He featured in the team's Sheffield Shield triumph in 1994-95, scoring 146 to help end a title drought which had lasted 68 years.

In 2003 he became the first Queenslander to score a triple-century when he made an unbeaten 300 against Victoria. In 2006-07 he passed 10,000 runs for the state and overtook Stuart Law as the highest run-getter.

With 29 hundreds, he also holds the record for the most three-figure scores for Queensland, and has played in five Sheffield Shield wins. He represented Durham in the County Championship and has 16,488 first-class runs at 48.92 with 43 hundreds.

His feats took a heavy toll on his body, forcing him to have two knee reconstructions. Love will play his final game at his home ground, the Gabba, when Queensland take on New South Wales on Thursday.