Gayle and Collymore on the road to recovery

Corey Collymore had surgery to remove a bone spur in his right knee tendon © Getty Images

Chris Gayle and Corey Collymore are relishing their return to competitive cricket after both players recently underwent surgery. Gayle is expected to return for Jamaica's third-round Carib Beer match against Trinidad and Tobago on January 6, while Collymore is aiming to be fit for the West Indies tour of India next June.

Gayle was forced to retire hurt during the second Test against Australia last month after suffering from a heart murmur and immediately underwent surgery in Melbourne. On his return to the Caribbean this week, Gayle told radio interviewers that the corrective surgery went well and he had been given four weeks to rest before returning to "light training".

Collymore also went under the surgeon's knife in Melbourne, to remove a bone spur in his right knee tendon. He will spend a few more days recuperating in Melbourne before returning to Barbados later this week.

"It will be some time before I get back into action," he told The Jamaica Observer, "but I will be doing all that is necessary to ensure that I return to playing cricket as soon as I can."

Although only managing eight wickets during the West Indies's recent tour of Australia, he was by far their most economical bowler, conceding just 2.70 runs per over.

"I am very happy that I underwent the operation now because it is the best option for my future," Collymore said. "I am even more happy that the operation went as planned and it turned out successfully."