Cricket: County hopes fade for Cairns

Chris Cairns seems unlikely to fulfil his English county contract with Nottinghamshire, and could be out of action until late this year.

The star New Zealand allrounder had a scan on his right knee on Wednesday.

The results may not be known until today, but it is understood the news is not promising.

Coach Denis Aberhart has virtually ruled out having Cairns on the tours to Sharjah and Pakistan next month, but is uncertain about further down the track.

"Probably we won't see him in Sharjah or Pakistan," Aberhart said yesterday. "He'll need some period of recuperation from his injury."

Cairns was due to join Nottinghamshire after the first test in Pakistan in the first week of May. He was then to miss the tour of the West Indies the following month and rejoin New Zealand for the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September.

That all looks unlikely after he suffered a tear to the patella tendon while diving in the field during the first test against England in Christchurch last week.

Cairns hobbled to the crease at No 11 in New Zealand's second innings only because Nathan Astle was in blazing form with the bat.

It may be that Cairns will not be seen again until the home series against India in December and January, just before the World Cup in South Africa.

Cairns, 31, was out for nine months last year after an operation on his right knee. He returned for the test and one-day series in Australia.

But speedster Shane Bond is on track for the West Indies tour after suffering a stress fracture to his left foot that ruled him out of the series against England.

The news is not so good for injured medium-fast bowlers Dion Nash and Shayne O'Connor, whose recovery periods fall outside the time frame for the trip to the West Indies.

Nash's ailment is a hip capsule problem and a comeback date has not been discussed because of the seriousness of the injury.

O'Connor had a knee operation seven weeks ago. He is making good progress, but is more than two months away from bowling at 100 per cent.

New Zealand Cricket's fitness adviser, Warren Frost, said yesterday that Bond was on track and his recovery would take a further step today when he began weight-bearing technique work.

The focus was on straightening the direction of his left foot at the point of delivery.

"The foot fracture has healed up and the West Indies tour is what he is being aimed at," Frost said.

- NZPA