Love called up as cover for Lehmann

Queensland batsman Martin Love has been called up as cover for Darren Lehmann for the fourth Orange Test match against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Boxing Day.

Love will join up with the squad this afternoon (Tuesday) following Lehmann's admission to hospital suffering from an acute infection in his right leg.

Australian team medical officer Dr Trefor James said: "Darren was admitted to hospital overnight on Monday and will receive a course of intravenous antibiotics. It is hoped he will be discharged on Christmas Day depending on his progress over the next 24 hours."

Love's call-up comes with him topping the list of first-class run-scorers for the season. He has scored 781 runs at an average of 130.16 this summer, including 250 for Queensland against England, 201 not out - also against England - for Australia A and 190 in his latest innings, against Tasmania.

After hearing of his call-up on Tuesday morning, Love said: "I'm very excited about being picked or potentially picked.

"Trevor Hohns called just when I was having breakfast and trying to organise our plans for Christmas Day.

"Those plans have now been thrown into a bit of a spin, but I'm more than happy with that.

"It's always something you do on Boxing Day, after having a big Christmas Day, you generally sit down and watch the Test when you're recovering, so it will certainly be a different view on things now that I'm actually part of it."