Cairns hopes to be back later in the year

Star CLEAR Blacks Caps all-rounder Chris Cairns will undergo surgery on his knee within the next three weeks and its hoped he will back in time for the tour to Pakistan in September.

Cairns saw a specialist in Christchurch earlier this week about patella tendonosis which has been affecting his right knee. "Rather than wait any longer, I decided to accept the expert advice to get what they call `patella decompression' done. Ironically, I had the same operation on the left knee in 1994 and I have every expectation of a full recovery on the right knee in a few months.

"There will be concentrated and careful build-up required after the surgery, but with any luck, I will be fully fit in six or seven months and I hope to be available for the tour to Pakistan," Cairns said.

The Chairman of selectors, Sir Richard Hadlee said while he's disappointed to not have Cairns for the upcoming National Bank series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he's more than happy that there's every prospect he will return before the end of the year. "A fully fit Chris Cairns will make a great difference to the CLEAR Black Caps and we need him in top condition," Sir Richard said.