Cairns faces a 48-hour wait before he will know whether he will be fit to play in the Test, which starts on Thursday at the Basin Reserve Ground.

Cairns turned his left ankle on Sunday while batting in a testimonial match for fellow international Gavin Larsen.

Cairns' bowling during the drawn first Test in Auckland was poor, his 30 overs producing one wicket for 103 runs, but he batted impressively in New Zealand's first innings.

CHRIS Silverwood has been ruled out of England's second Test against New Zealand after suffering a hand injury in training. The Yorkshire fast bowler, 21, needed five stitches in a cut to the webbing between his right thumb and forefinger. England physio Wayne Morton said Silverwood was injured while ground fielding.

England, beaten by New Zealand A at the weekend, took the day off yesterday, players going in different social directions. Some visited a winery in Marlborough, others went fishing and some played golf.