CHRISTCHURCH, March 15: New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns will play the remainder of the first test against England as a batsman only after injuring a tendon on his right knee.

Cairns took two wickets in the opening over of the test on Wednesday but bowled with increasing discomfort throughout the remainder of the England first innings and during the first part of the second innings on Thursday.

Team physiotherapist Dayle Shackel said on Friday that Cairns had sustained a patella tendon injury on his right knee while fielding.

Cairns, New Zealand’s key player, took three wickets in the first innings to move within three of the 200 mark.—Reuters