The wife of former Australia captain Steve Waugh is recovering after undergoing emergency brain surgery to remove a blood clot.

Lynette Waugh, 38, was taken to Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital and operated on by neurosurgeon Charles Teo on Friday.

"We've seen her, she's going well," Steve's twin brother Mark told reporters. The 41-year-old Steve Waugh, renowned for his gritty approach to the game, captained Australia 57 times and achieved 41 victories -- the most by any test captain.

After making his debut in 1985, Waugh hit 32 test centuries, a mark only bettered by India's Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, and led Australia to victory in the 1999 World Cup.

The family released a statement saying they appreciated the public's concern but did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding Lynette's sudden illness.

The couple were married in 1991 and have three children.