Shane Warne is expected to recover in time for next year's World Cup after surgeons operated on his dislocated shoulder on Monday.

The Australian team's doctor, Trefor James, told a news conference that Warne's injury is not as bad as feared and he was only expected to be out of action for four to six weeks.

The leg-spinner will miss the final two Ashes Tests and the rest of the triangular one-day series with England and Sri Lanka.

"I don't think I could be definite, [but] we are hopeful he will be available and we will just have to wait until we are in a better position to see."

Warne underwent surgery within hours of dislocating his bowling shoulder in a freak fielding accident against England the previous night.

The wrist-spinner's injury was complicated by the fact he has a history of shoulder problems, but James said the dislocation was unconnected to his previous injuries.

Warne's career was almost cut short four years ago when he injured the same shoulder, requiring a complete reconstruction.

He missed the first four Ashes Tests but eventually returned to play the final match in January 1999 and later that year played a starring role in helping Australia win the World Cup for the second time.

Fitter and Trimmer

Already the second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history with 491 victims, the 33-year-old has been playing as well as ever this year after undergoing a strict training programme to make himself fitter and trimmer.

Everything was going according to plan for Warne until Sunday night.

Australia had already clinched the Ashes against a hopelessly outclassed England and were cruising to another easy one-day win when Warne dived to stop a single off his own bowling and landed heavily on his right elbow.

Writhing in pain, it was immediately obvious Warne had seriously injured himself and he was carried from the Melbourne Cricket Ground on a stretcher before the shoulder joint was put back into place in the dressing room.

"He knew straight away," captain Ricky Ponting said. "He was saying to all of us that he thought it was out and he could feel it was out of joint so he had a pretty good idea straight away."