Damien Martyn was recalled to the Australian team on Wednesday for the first Test against Zimbabwe starting next week.

The stylish middle-order batsman replaced the unlucky Martin Love as the only change to the team that beat Bangladesh in July.

Brad Williams was also added to an expanded squad of 13 as a precaution for fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who is recovering from ankle surgery but is still expected to play.

Martyn has not played a Test for Australia since January after he broke his index finger just before the World Cup final in March.

He missed this year's tour of West Indies and also the two-Test series with Bangladesh but played in the one-dayers and recently proved his fitness with a double-century for Yorkshire in the English county championship.

"I guess it's a sense of relief really because such is the depth in Australian cricket that as soon as you relinquish your position for injury or whatever reason, another player can just as easily take your spot," Martyn said.

"I guess from a fitness point of view I was able to demonstrate that I was ready for Test cricket again after the one-dayers against Bangladesh and my recent stint in England.

Martyn's return forced the selectors to drop Love even though the Queenslander scored 100 not out in his previous Test innings against Bangaldesh.

Love joined Paul Sheahan, John Benaud and Dirk Wellham in an unlucky group of Australian batsmen to be dropped after making hundreds.

MINOR CHANGES

"We feel that the squad has the necessary depth for this Test match and it is for that reason that we have only made minor changes to the team that faced Bangladesh," chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said.

"Martin Love misses out on selection this time, which is a tough call considering his most recent Test innings saw him register a century.

"On that front his omission is not form-based, it's simply a case of not having enough positions to accommodate him. Martin has demonstrated his ability to step up to the Test level, and that's an encouraging sign for the future of Australian cricket.

"However, Damien Martyn is an established Test player and deserves the chance to come back into the side after injury."

Hohns said the squad would be reduced to 12 once a decision on whether McGrath would play had been made but he was hopeful the lanky paceman would be fit.

"We are keeping a close watch on Glenn McGrath's progress from injury," Hohns said.

"The advice from the medical team is that his recovery from surgery is promising, but we will monitor his progress over the course of the next few days before making a final decision."

The first Test will be played at the WACA in Perth from October 9-13 with the second starting in Sydney a week later.

Australia squad for first Test: Steve Waugh (captain), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill, Andy Bichel, Glenn McGrath (subject to fitness), Brad Williams.