Cricket: Lehmann to bolster top order

The Australian selectors have reacted to the crisis in their top-order batting by recalling prolific left-hander Darren Lehmann for Sunday's tri-series match against South Africa.

The South Australia skipper has forced his way back into the side for the first time since the fifth one-day international in India in April last year.

Queensland all-rounder Andrew Symonds makes way for Lehmann, who had already started his week in a celebratory mood after being included in the 15-man test squad for the tour of South Africa.

The leading run-scorer in both the domestic first-class and one-day competitions this season, the man they call "Boof" has scored 361 ING Cup runs in seven matches at an average of 72.20, claiming four man-of-the-match awards along the way.

His test berth was secured on the back of some equally strong form in the Pura Cup competition, in which he has already scored 772 runs at 64.33.

"It's been a pretty good 24 hours for me," Lehmann said after hearing the news. "Finding out about my inclusion in the test squad to tour South Africa and Zimbabwe was so exciting.

"To know that I will be joining the one-day team for the Perth leg of the VB-sponsored series is the icing on the cake."

The news will also be ringing alarm bells in the Australian camp as the selectors survey a batting line-up which has failed consistently in recent weeks, resulting in the side facing elimination.

The only relief has come from two brilliant individual centuries from Damien Martyn and Michael Bevan, without which Australia would probably have been eliminated already.

Australia: Steve Waugh (captain), Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn, Ian Harvey, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel.