Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait underwent minor surgery on Tuesday in a bid to be ready for this year's inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

Surgeons carried out arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue from Tait's right elbow that had been troubling him since the limited-overs World Cup in the West Indies.

Tait was one of the standout players of the Australian team that won the World Cup for the fourth time after being called into the side as a late replacement for the injured Brett Lee.

He is expected to be out of action until August but could return for the Twenty20 World Cup a month later.