Spinners Nathan Hauritz and Steve Smith are making good progress following surgery ahead of Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka in August-September, team physio Alex Kountouris said on Thursday. Off-spinner Hauritz missed the World Cup earlier this year with a shoulder injury while leg-spinner Smith had surgery on his left ankle to remove a bone spur.
Kountouris said both bowlers were doing well in their rehabilitation ahead of the series in Sri Lanka, where conditions are expected to favour spin. "His (Hauritz's) rehabilitation is progressing as expected and he will hopefully resume bowling over the next month," Kountouris said. Former captain Ricky Ponting is also expected to be fit despite having surgery to remove screws inserted to stabilise a fractured finger in January.