West Indies captain Brian Lara was injured in training on Wednesday as batsman Chris Gayle and fast bowler Corey Collymore were ruled out of the second Test against South Africa starting on Friday.

Lara, who will become the sixth West Indian to play 100 Tests, was hit on the left forearm while batting during team practice at Kingsmead. Although a precautionary x-ray showed bruising, there was no serious damage.

Opening batsman Gayle and Collymore were sidelined with hamstring injuries sustained in earlier matches.

"Lara went for a precautionary X-ray, which just showed bruising," West Indies coach Gus Logie told reporters. "It's Brian's 100th Test match, and we want to make it as special as we can -- both for him and for the team."

The absence of Gayle could open the door for Carlton Baugh, the understudy wicketkeeper to Ridley Jacobs who can play as a specialist batsman.

Fast bowler Adam Sanford, who took five for 53 in the drawn tour match against Border in East London at the weekend, and uncapped left-arm wrist spinner Dave Mahommed are in the frame to replace Collymore.

"It's an opportunity for young players to come in and make a name for themselves," added Logie.

"With all these injuries, the players will have to take on a bit more responsibility."

Vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan was relieved that key batsman Lara had been cleared to play in the match.

"It would be a privilege and an honour to captain the West Indies, but Brian's fit to go and I'm happy with that," said Sarwan.

Although South Africa won the first Test in the four-match series by 189 runs in Johannesburg, Lara took a world record 28 runs off a single over from Peterson on his way to a score of 202.