Sydney: Former Australia cricket captain Steve Smith’s surgery for an elbow injury went ‘very well’ and he remains on track for the World Cup in England, his manager Warren Craig has said.
Smith was forced to drop out of the Bangladesh Premier League T20 tournament last month with the ligament problem. He went under the knife and is currently in a brace.
“Until the brace comes off we don’t know for sure but all current opinion is that he’ll then have about three-and-a-half weeks (before being ready to play),” Craig was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia (CA). “The intent is that he will play in the IPL (Indian Premier League) and then the World Cup and then the Ashes,” added Craig.
His comments appeared to rubbish reports this week that Smith may miss the 50 overs World Cup and return to cricket through the Australia A tour of England that coincides with the showpiece tournament that begins in late May.
Smith and David Warner become eligible for international selection again March 29 after serving year-long bans for their part in ball tampering during a Test against South Africa in 2018.
Warner also returned home from Bangladesh to have an injured elbow assessed, but it is not believed to be as serious as Smith’s. He was due to undergo minor surgery in late January.
Australian Test skipper Tim Paine had earlier said Monday that he expected both of them to play ‘a huge’ role in this year’s Ashes series against England.
AFP