World-class all-rounder Chris Cairns has bitten the bullet and decided he can no longer avoid the surgery required on his troublesome right knee.

Cairns started the season knowing an operation would be needed at some stage on the knee but had hoped to get through this season without problems.

However, it was clear when he broke down in Zimbabwe that the signs were not good, and while he held together long enough to help New Zealand claim the ICC KnockOut tournament in Nairobi, Kenya, and then went on to compete in the one-day series in South Africa, he was only stalling the inevitable.

That came yesterday in Christchurch when he saw a specialist about the patella tendonitis that has been affecting his knee.

The good news is that Cairns hopes to be recovered and ready to travel with the New Zealand side to Pakistan in September.

"Rather than wait any longer, I decided to accept the expert advice to get what they call 'patella decompression' done," Cairns said.

"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 of Pakistan," Cairns said.

The chairman of selectors, Sir Richard Hadlee, said while he is disappointed Cairns will miss the National Bank Series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he is more than happy that there is 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," Hadlee said.

© CricInfo