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Shivnarine Chanderpaul is a few days away from a return to competitive cricket.

Chetram Singh, president of the Guyana Cricket Board, said yesterday the West Indies' left-handed batsman was recovering from an operation on his foot performed in Melbourne, Australia, last December and was expected to play for Guyana in their home Busta Cup match against Jamaica starting tomorrow.

Singh said Chanderpaul was having regular treatment from physiotherapist Anna Benn in Georgetown and, although still in a little pain, was making good progress.

Chanderpaul has not had a match since the first Test against Australia in Brisbane, November 25 when he topscored with an unbeaten 62 in the West Indies all-out 124 second innings.

A stress fracture of his left foot was diagnosed before the second Test in Perth and was further complicated when a scan revealed a piece of chipped bone in his heel.

An operation by Guyana-born Dr. David Young in Melbourne was successful and Chanderpaul has worked on his recovery since his return home in December.

His recovery is good news for the West Indies for whom he is the most consistent middle-order batsman.

Still only 25, Chanderpaul averages 40 in his 45 Tests. He has been affected by injuries and illness over the past two years that caused him to miss the 1999 home Test series against Australia and last season's triangular One-Day series with Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

© The Barbados Nation