Steve Smith surgery goes 'very well', on track for World Cup

Former Australia cricket captain Steve Smith's management confirmed that his elbow injury went "very well" and is currently in a brace. The 29-year-old remains on track to play in the IPL (Indian Premier League) and then the World Cup

Former Australia cricket captain Steve Smith's management confirmed that his surgery for elbow injury went "very well" and is currently in a brace. The 29-year-old remains on track to play in the IPL (Indian Premier League) and then the World Cup.

Following the injury, Smith had to drop out of the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament last month with the ligament problem.

"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)," Smith's manager Warren Craig told the Cricket Australia website.

"The intent is that he will play in the IPL (Indian Premier League) and then the World Cup and then the Ashes." 

Earlier there were reports that Smith may miss the World Cup 2019 and return to cricket through the Australia A tour of England.

The experienced pair of Smith and David Warner, without whom the Aussies have struggled, becomes eligible for international selection again on March 29 after serving year-long bans.

Australian Test skipper Tim Paine on Monday said he expected both of them to play "a huge" role in this year's Ashes series against England.

"We know how good they are and hopefully once their bans are up they'll be welcomed back and they will win Test matches like they did before," said Paine.