Allrounder James Faulkner isn't giving up hope of playing in the World T20 in Bangladesh in March.
Faulkner says he'll seek further details from his surgeon on Friday on his likely return date after being ruled out of Australia's three-Test series in South Africa which starts on February 12.
Faulkner was part of Australia's Test squad during the Ashes summer, however a broken thumb interrupted his attempts to return to the line-up after playing his only Test at The Oval in August.
The pace bowler averaged 49 with the bat and was the leading wicket-taker with 11 victims in Australia's five-match one-day international series against England earlier in January.
So his latest injury comes at an awkward time for the talented 23-year-old.
"I wouldn't say unlucky. I've had a pretty good run, the last 12 months or so," Faulkner, leaning on crutches, told reporters on Thursday.
"I've got to look at the positives. I've got a few weeks now on the sidelines, get myself up and running and try to make the cut for the World Cup squad."
Faulkner said he felt knee soreness during the opening ODI game at the MCG on January 12.
"I thought I was right to play and played the remainder of the series and then, in the last game, I felt a fair bit of pain," he said.
"I had some cartilage floating around so ... went in and cleaned that up.
"I had a hole in the back of the knee as well. It wasn't like a reconstruction - it was just a little tidy-up."
Tasmania's Faulkner said it was tough being on the sidelines in Hobart on Wednesday as Australia scored a 13-run over England in the opening game of the three-match T20 series.
It was also tough for the bowlers with the short boundaries creating plenty of controversy in the 413-run game.
"It was maybe a little bit weighted in the batsman's favour," England captain Stuart Broad said.
Faulkner says it's up to the bowlers to restrict the batsmen as best they can.
"I'd like to think the rules are the same for both teams, no matter if they're 50 metres, 70 metres, 80 metres," he said.
"The ropes are in or out. Either way, you've got to adapt."
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