Hauritz undergoes facial surgery weeks after being struck by Queensland club patron

Hauritz undergoes facial surgery weeks after being struck by Queensland club patronBrisbane, Sep. 10 : Injured Australia spinner Nathan Hauritz had to undergo facial surgery after being struck during an altercation with a patron of a Queensland nightclub a fortnight ago.

He had a few drinks before the incident occurred, Fox Sports reports.

Police is investigating the incident, but Cricket Australia's general manager of cricket operations, Michael Brown, said that Hauritz, 29, would not be pressing charges.

Cricket Australia has sanctioned the struggling spinner but refused to release any details of the penalty.

The incident took place at the Hervey Bay nightclub a fortnight ago, but the matter was not resolved by Cricket Australia until Thursday.

"By his own admission Nathan said he was immature and silly. He had a few drinks, the incident occurred, Nathan was struck by a patron," said Brown.

"Nathan has chosen not to lay any charges, which is his right. We''ve investigated the matter and determined the matter has been resolved internally. I have great sympathy for what Nathan has been through. No person deserves to get whacked in the face. All parties are happy with the outcome and we move on," Brown added.

Hauritz has received a medical clearance to play for New South Wales in the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament in India beginning later this month.

The latest incident is the continuation of a bad 12 months for Hauritz, who lost his Test place at the beginning of last summer and had his Cricket World Cup hopes dashed by injury.

Hauritz dislocated a shoulder playing a one-day international in Hobart last January. He required surgery, forcing him to miss the Cricket World Cup.

Hauritz played his last Test in October, with Doherty, Steve Smith, Michael Beer and now Nathan Lyon all chosen ahead of him as spinners during Australia''s past seven Tests.

Lyon, 23, made a spectacular debut during the first Test in Galle last week, claiming 5-34. Hauritz will now face strong competition for a place in the NSW side from Smith and Stephen O''Keefe, 26, a left-arm spinner who has claimed 39 wickets at 25 in 11 Sheffield Shield matches. (ANI)