Injured Clark could yet tour South Africa

Stuart Clark has a chance to return in time for Australia's Test tour of South Africa in February, after the surgery he had on his right elbow on Monday was declared a success. Clark had bone spurs removed in an effort to eradicate an ongoing problem that emerged on the tour of India before flaring up again over the past week.

"I spoke to the surgeon and I've spoken to Stuey today," Australia's physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said at the WACA on Tuesday. "He went home last night which is a good sign, things went pretty well.

"They found some spurs at the back of the joint as expected which was probably causing his pain. They removed the spurs, cleaned up the joint and he's back home. When I rang him this morning he was at a swimming lesson with his son so he's feeling okay at the moment."

The problem has ended any chance of Clark taking further part in Australia's home summer but the return tour of South Africa - the first Test begins in Johannesburg on February 26 - is not out of the question. It would be a dream scenario for Clark, who made such a successful Test debut on the last tour of South Africa in 2005-06 that he was the Player of the Series.

"He's a chance for it, he's definitely not out of it," Kountouris said of the February trip. "It's a bit early to say. If it's going well then there's a good chance."

But it will be a tight squeeze for Clark to prove his fitness in time - he is unlikely to do any bowling at all for the next six weeks. Clark's problem has opened the door for the Victoria fast bowler Peter Siddle to press his claims for more regular international action, beginning with the first Test against South Africa starting on Wednesday in Perth.