Ian Chappell believes stand-in Test captain Steve Smith should have the job for keeps, even if Michael Clarke makes a successful recovery from hamstring surgery.

The influential commentator and former Australian captain, who led the side from 1971-75, fears the disruption that could be caused should the injury-prone Clarke return then break down again.

Chappell used his commentary posts on Fairfax Radio and Channel Nine on Wednesday to outline the case for Smith, who has gone from fringe player to captain in the space of 18 months.

Clarke underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair "substantial damage" to a hamstring tendon and described the procedure as a success.

Cricket Australia are still aiming to have Clarke fit for the World Cup, starting on February 14, though the captain would still be a longshot to make the tournament.

The seriousness of Clarke's injury prompted selectors to make a call for the long-term future when they handed the captaincy to Smith on Sunday instead of Brad Haddin, who had been vice-captain.

Smith will have at least two more Tests at the helm this summer, possibly longer if Clarke cannot return for the series against the West Indies in the Caribbean next June leading into the Ashes.

If he does a good job, Chappell wants selectors to stick with him as captain, regardless of whether Clarke returns.

"Michael Clarke is probably going to struggle to make the Caribbean. He [Smith] could be captain for quite a while now," Chappell said on Channel Nine. "And if he does a decent job I dont think Michael Clarke should be given the job back. I think he should keep it."

Smith, 25, is the third youngest player to lead Australia at Test level and the youngest since Kim Hughes took over from Graham Yallop against Pakistan in 1979. "I always thought about 27 was right because you're then more mature as a person," Chappell said.

"You've generally, in an Australian side, played a lot of cricket so you've had experience in a variety of conditions and you've established yourself as a player and won the respect of your teammates as a player. Twenty-five is a little younger than that but he's done all those things."

If Clarke was to come back, Chappell said, he should return as a player, which is what Ricky Ponting did after he relinquished the captaincy following the 2011 World Cup.

"I don't think you can be chopping and changing captains. And then you've got the other problem if Michael Clarke does come back, his injury history now is so bad, as a selector you'd be very worried that he's there for one and gone for a couple," Chappell said.

"I don't think you need to be chopping and changing. If Smith is doing a good job you just say 'right, we'll stick with him and have Michael Clarke as a player'."

Chappell has been a longtime fan of Clarke's aggressive captaincy, though he has been more critical in recent times. Last month, he accused Clarke of not understanding how important a batting order was after he disagreed with Chappell on whether Shane Watson should bat in the top three.

CA team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris was heartened by the report he received from Clarke's surgeon Julian Feller.

"He found what he expected to find, there were no surprises and he managed to do a good repair," Kountouris said.

"He was very confident Michael's going to make a good recovery."

"These are the sort of injuries that do tend to recur unless you get them repaired."

Kountouris said the World Cup was still on the agenda for Clarke though more would be known once it was apparent how well he had recovered from surgery.

Clarke, however, would still have to convince selectors he can not only make contribution with so litte match practice but also prove his fragile hamstrings can withstand the higher intensity of the shorter game.