South Africa captain Graeme Smith had a successful visit to Melbourne on Monday to the visit the surgeon who has treated him throughout his stay in Australia.

Smith, who was already ruled out of the one-day series in Australia because of his long-standing elbow problem, also broke his finger in the Sydney Test and was advised to not take any further action in the match.

His finger was re-x-rayed and put in a new plaster cast in Melbourne. It will be x-rayed again when he returns to South Africa so that Cricket South Africa's medical panel can monitor and supervise his recovery over the next month.

He also had the first blood injection into the tear in his elbow and the second will follow in due course. Contrary to previous reports this procedure has been carried out in South Africa before.

“The surgeon was generally happy with my injuries and feels that I am on course to recover provided I don't take any more blows in the affected areas,” commented Smith.