Astle to have knee surgery after World Cup

New Zealand batsman Nathan Astle has withdrawn from his contract with Derbyshire to have knee surgery.

Astle, 31, who is New Zealand's highest-ranked one-day batsman, also holds the world record for the fastest Test double century.

Surgeons will operate on a patella tendon injury immediately after the World Cup, which begins in South Africa in less than three weeks' time. He will need around six months rehabilitation.

"It is incredibly frustrating having to say no to Derbyshire but I want to play for New Zealand for another couple of years and I don't want to jeopardise that," Astle told the Dominion Post newspaper.

"It might get sore at the World Cup but I don't want to miss that for anything. I think we can manage the problem there with a sensible workload, lots of Voltarins (anti-inflammatory tablets) and just the adrenaline of the occasion."

Astle, who has also played for Nottinghamshire, is contracted to Derbyshire from June to September, but the county was aware of his knee problem. Derbyshire may now offer an extended contract to Pakistan's Shahid Afridi, who is currently contracted for April and May.

Astle believes the injury is the result of wear and tear rather than a specific problem. "I've played with niggles before but this is a bit different. It gets sore and I get sharp pain in the front of my knee so it obviously needs an op," he added.