Knee Surgery for Gareth Breese

Jamaica off-spinner Gareth Breese was on crutches Wednesday after undergoing a minor operation to correct cartilage damage to his left knee, the Jamaica Observer reported.

It was not clear if Breese, who turns 27 on Thursday, will be fit for the month-end start of the regional first-class season. The sore knee has kept Breese off the cricket field since mid-December forcing him to miss the last two four-day preparation matches.

Breese -- whose need for minor surgery was confirmed by a recent MRI test -- has been a top performer with ball and bat for Jamaica over the last two seasons. He was the region's top all-rounder last season scoring 404 runs in nine Busta Cup/Shield games for an average of 36.72, while taking 44 wickets at 20.28 each.

He earned a place in the West Indies touring team to India recently and he made his debut in the second Test of that tour in a losing cause. He failed with the bat but bowled without any luck in taking 2-108 in the Indian first innings.

Breese was originally listed to participate in a WICB-sponsored spin-bowling camp in Antigua beginning on January 12 but his place will now be taken by Wayne Simpson.

The newspaper also reported that former West Indies fastbowler, Franklyn Rose, who missed the third preparation game because of a "slight strain" was cleared to to play in the final game.