A sore elbow that had forced Steven Smith return to Australia from the Bangladesh Premier League will now need surgery, Cricket Australia confirmed on Saturday (January 12). He will undergo surgery on Tuesday (January 15) on a damaged ligament in the elbow, which will require him to wear a brace for six weeks, before commencing rehabilitation.
A previous elbow issue flared up while the former Australian captain was skippering the Comilla Victorians in the BPL, who was seen with heavy strapping over the irritated area in the two games he played in for them. He had returned to Australia for a check-up after MRI scans were not clear and was to return to the tournament had he been cleared of any serious injury after receiving necessary medical attention.
However, a surgery could mean several months on the sidelines, derailing his return to international cricket once the suspension duration is complete. He’s also set to miss the Pakistan Super League and the Indian Premier League, which starts March 23. Although it is too early to predict a return date for Smith, an immediate surgery would give him a few months’ time ahead of the World Cup.
