Gayle out of Test after undergoing heart operation

West Indies opener Chris Gayle will miss the final Test against Australia after undergoing a heart procedure.

Gayle, who has suffered an irregular heartbeat, had the successful, short procedure in Melbourne on Wednesday.{{more}}

He had been forced to retire in the middle of an innings in the second Test after he suffered dizziness.

“Apart from a short period of rest there are no other impediments to Chris’ returning to the cricket field in the near future,” said a statement.

West Indies manager Anthony Howard added: “We are all happy to learn that his procedure was successful.”

The tourists, already 2-0 down in the series, had already lost Marlon Samuels for the final Test in Adelaide, which starts on Friday.

Samuels has a knee injury, but West Indies will not be calling up a replacement for either him or Gayle as they still have six fit batsmen in the squad.

“At this stage he would need to rest his knee for at least two weeks and in consultation with Marlon, it was decided that the best place to achieve that would be at home in Jamaica,” said team physio Stephen Partridge.

West Indies fast bowler Pedro Collins, meanwhile, is hoping to make his Test comeback later in the year after missing the tour because of a stress fracture in his back.

“Right now rest is on the agenda,” the left-armer said.

“I’m eager to get back, I really am. Watching the series in Australia on television has made me quite excited to make a return.”

West Indies squad: S Chanderpaul (Captain), R Sarwan (Vice Captain) DS Smith, W Hinds, B Lara, DR Smith, D Bravo, D Ramdin, T Best, D Powell, F Edwards, J Lawson and C Collymore.