Martin Love named in the Aussie squad to tour WI

By Jon Steer
March 17 2003

As expected Martin Love has been confirmed in the Australian Squad to tour the West Indies in April and May. Love who was Durham's leading run maker last season will be sorely missed. Durham have responded by signing the Indian bowler Javagal Srinath.

The Australian Cricket Board named the squad to tour the WI this morning. The squad will be captained by Steve Waugh after he announced that he would not be retiring yet.

Love who has two test caps for Australia from the Ashes tour earlier in the year could also miss more Durham games later in the season when Australia play host to Bangladesh for the first time.

The selection panel chairman highlighted Love's domestic form for Queensland as a major reason for his selection: "His domestic form has been outstanding for some time. He has a cool head and offers us a genuine option in the middle-order as well as a safe pair of hands in the slip cordon.

Durham have signed Indian pace bowler Javagal Srinath to cover for Love but his selection will still be a loss to the batting strength of the squad as Love was Durham's leading run maker last season.