Smith avoids surgery, faces race to be fit for West Indies Tests

Steven Smith has avoided surgery on the compound dislocation he suffered on the third day against South Africa at Lord's but still faces a race against time to be fit for Australia's upcoming Test series in West Indies.

Smith went straight to hospital after leaving the field when he sustained the injury to his right little finger, spilling a sharp chance offered by Temba Bavuma.

The wound was cleaned, stitched and the finger placed in a splint and it's understood he will be able to bat if he can tolerate doing so with the splint, which he will need to wear for up to eight weeks although the wound itself is expected to heal in around a fortnight. The impact on him in the field would also need to be assessed and it could hinder his ability to field in the slips.

Australia's first Test in West Indies starts on June 25 in Barbados, which would appear an unlikely timeframe, followed by matches in Grenada and Jamaica in July. Smith had also been due for a brief stint for Washington Freedom at Major League Cricket (MLC) between the end of the WTC final and the first Test.

"He's positive," Pat Cummins said. "I think it's somewhere around the 10 days to two weeks. Then maybe you try and bat with a splint and see how that looks. I think it's a bit of a wait and see. I'd say first Test, maybe unlikely, and then kind of go from there. It's a bit early just to tell."

It would be a significant boost for Australia if Smith was able to play a part in the series given there is uncertainty over the top order after the struggles of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the World Test Championship final.

Khawaja's lean outing continued his difficulties against pace bowler over the last 12 months while Green faced just five balls in the Test, falling twice to Kagiso Rabada, in his first time batting at No. 3. Labuschagne made two starts of 17 and 22 having been moved to open but did not make a convincing case to be retained in the role.

Sam Konstas is waiting in the wings for a potential recall while Josh Inglis is the other spare batter in the current squad.