SYDNEY, June 18: Australian pace bowler Shaun Tait expects to be back in action by mid-August after he undergoes arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday. Tait, a World Cup revelation with 23 wickets at an average of 20.30 in the Caribbean, has been troubled by his bowling arm accentuated by his slingshot delivery.

“Tait is undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday to relieve soft-tissue impingement,” Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a statement on Monday. “We are hoping he will be back bowling by mid-August. This would leave him with a 50-50 chance of playing the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.”

Tait seized his opportunity to carve out a regular place in the Australian side at the World Cup following a pre-tournament injury to Brett Lee.

Captain Ricky Ponting gave the 24-year-old South Australian licence to rough up opposing teams’ top orders with the new ball at the World Cup.

It was a tactic which paid off handsomely with Australia claiming a third successive World Cup title in the final against Sri Lanka. —AFP