Love to miss out as Martyn prepares for return

Damien Martyn is set to be recalled when Australia name their squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe at Perth which starts on October 9. He is likely to be preferred to Martin Love who has struggled to make an impression despite scoring a hundred in his last outing against Bangladesh. Love came into the side when Martyn missed the Caribbean tour because of the broken finger he suffered during the World Cup.

Trevor Hohns, Australia's chairman of selectors, refused to speculate on the squad but confirmed that Martyn was in the frame. "Damien was a senior established player before he was injured and his position is a matter that will obviously be discussed at length," Hohns said. "But it would be presumptuous to speculate about who is going to play. We will pick the team early next week and all sorts of factors will be considered."

Australia were boosted by the news that Glenn McGrath's recovery from ankle surgery was going better than expected and that he was on course to be fit in time for the match. "There is no reason to cross him off the list for selection yet," Errol Alcott, Australia's physiotherapist said. "He is coming along well, has been bowling in the local park without problems and I am pretty optimistic he will be right."