South Africa captain Graeme Smith has been cleared to play against Australia in the second Test at the MCG from December 26.
Smith, one of the stars of the Proteas’ six-wicket win in Perth, has battled pain in his right elbow for some time and regularly undergoes painkilling injections, The Age reported.
But coach Mickey Arthur said on Tuesday that the left-handed opener would definitely play on Boxing Day, although the Proteas had to determine whether Smith needed to undergo corrective surgery in the future.
"He had a jab this morning, it's fine. At some point we're going to have to sit down and discuss a plan going forward as to exactly what we do with it. But it's not going to keep him out of this Test match or the next one," Arthur said.
"There's going to be a point, a breakthrough point, where we're going to have to make some sort of a decision," he added.
While Smith is a certain starter, fellow batsman Ashwell Prince remains in doubt to play in Melbourne, after a thumb injury kept the vice-captain out of the first Test.
"He was re-X-rayed (sic) yesterday and he's making very, very good progress. The Test now will be when he has to get in the nets tomorrow and then we'll know exactly where we are," Arthur said.
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