Tasmania fast bowler Peter George has been called into Australia's Test squad as cover for injured Ryan Harris ahead of the first test against New Zealand in Wellington starting on Friday.

Harris had complained of soreness in his left side during the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series, which had forced him to sit out of the final game.

Meanwhile, George's selection follows his outstanding record for Tasmania, where he has an overall first-class record of 56 wickets at an average of 31.05.

Talking about the surprise call, George said: "It just shows I'm next in line at this stage or thereabouts, so that's obviously fairly exciting for me. I'm not expecting really to be playing but to be around the guys and to be there ready, if I do happen to get the call-up, that would be awesome." Just to be heading over there as a back-up is unbelievable for me and to say I expected it or even dreamed of it would be an exaggeration I think," Stuff.co.nz quoted George, as saying.

Australian National Selection Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch believes that George is an exciting young fast bowler, who has the skills to succeed at the international level and will benefit reatly from being around the Australian set-up. (ANI)