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Marlon Samuels' promising start to his international career has been put on hold for at least three months and probably beyond the upcoming home series against India and New Zealand.

Team manager Ricky Skerritt said yesterday original estimates that a knee operation here on Sunday would put the 21-year-old Jamaican out for between six and seven weeks had been amended.

Unable to play in the two Tests here, he would still be recuperating during India's tour of the West Indies for five Tests and five One-Day Internationals April 11 to June 2.

Although New Zealand's series of two Tests and three One-Day Internationals is not until June 5 to July 2, Samuels would have no chance to get match fit by then.

The surgery removed a piece of bone after X-rays taken following his arrival here for the current series against Pakistan revealed a large defect on the inner part of the right knee.

The part of the bone that required removal proved bigger than anticipated and three small incisions had to be made, rather than two, Skerritt said, quoting orthodpaedic surgeon Dr Deepak Bhajia who performed the keyhole operation.

He said it had been a success and Samuels had reported feeling no pain in his knee for the first time in two years.

Marlon is to have the stitches removed tomorrow and, to avoid putting pressure on the knee, is using crutches, the manager added. He will remain in Sharjah until the series is over and fly back with the team on Monday.

As middle-order batsman and useful off-spinner, Samuels has played 12 Tests and 29 One-Day Internationals since he was suddenly pitch-forked into the series in Australia just over a year ago as a replacement for Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

He made an immediate impression against the strong Australian attack but has not maintained his consistency since.

Samuels joins another of the young band of batsmen sidelined by injury.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, also 21 who has had 17 Tests since his debut against Pakistan in April 2000, was ruled out of the trip to Sharjah by a back complaint that has bothered him since the tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya last June and July.

It is not known when he will return but he has not yet played for Guyana in the current Busta Series in the West Indies.

While Samuels and Sarwan have been eliminated by injury, another young batsman gets his first chance at international level.

Runako Morton, the 23-year-old Nevisian, arrived here Sunday after Samuels' indisposition and Sherwin Campbell's fractured finger that left the team short of two batsmen. He is expected to be in the 11 for the opening day-night One-Day International here tomorrow.

Morton, who was not among the listed stand-bys for the tour, has been preferred to Leon Garrick, the little Jamaican who was.

The selectors were clearly seeking a middle-order batsman, which Morton is, rather than an opener, which Garrick is.

It is unlucky for Garrick who was on the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka last November and December but returned home before the One-Day Internationals because of a potentially serious heart problem.

That has since been corrected and Garrick is enjoying a productive Busta Series, averaging 53.2 after three rounds.

Morton was enjoying his best season when selected, averaging 73.5 for the Leewards from the first two Busta rounds.

It marks a significant turnaround for the strongly-built Nevisian.

He missed most of last season because of a broken hand and was expelled from the inaugural Shell Cricket Academy in Grenada last August on a disciplinary charge.

He is a naturally gifted player, a stroke-playing batsman, fine, fast-moving fielder and occasional medium-pace bowler.

Like Samuels, his opportunity has unexpectedly come knocking through someone else's misfortune. It is there for him to take.

© The Barbados Nation