Smith reveals next step in recovery from finger injury

Australia batter Steve Smith has spoken for the first time since he picked up a finger injury during the ICC World Test Championship Final and provided a prognosis surrounding his return to international cricket.

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Smith was sent to hospital during the third day of Australia's defeat to South Africa at Lord's after the veteran suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger while fielding in the slip cordon.

The initial diagnosis for Smith is reasonably good, with the 36-year-old lucky to have avoided surgery and still a chance to feature in Australia's upcoming three-match Test series against the West Indies in the Caribbean.

"I will be in a splint for eight weeks now and I may be able to play with it in a couple of weeks," Smith revealed after Australia's five-wicket loss to the Proteas at Lord's.

"It will depend on my functionality and what I am able to do, so it was probably the best result I could have hoped for," he said.