New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns' latest knee injury is to be assessed by his personal surgeon, it was revealed on Friday.

The surgeon, Paul Armour, operated on the leg last year when Cairns had knee surgery which kept him out of all cricket until the Australian tour.

Cairns took no part on the third day of the first Test at Jade Stadium as England's batsmen steered themselves into a virtually impregnable position.

He did bowl four overs on Thursday evening, but already he had signalled his discomfort by declining to take the new ball.

Whether Cairns will play any further part in the Test series will be decided after he is examined by Armour. A decision will be made on his situation on Saturday.

Heavy outfield

However, he will bat in New Zealand's second innings.

Cairns is thought to have injured his knee while fielding on the Jade Stadium's heavy outfield, which is also used for rugby matches.

"The outfield is certainly heavier and rougher than it has been in the past and some of our bowlers struggled with it yesterday," coach Dennis Aberhart had said on Thursday.

Cairns, one of the finest all-rounders in world cricket, is due to tour Sharjah and Pakistan with the New Zealanders next month.

He plans to play in the first of the two Tests before joining Nottinghamshire for two seasons.