News that world-class all-rounder Chris Cairns may not be available for New Zealand's seven match one-day series with India until halfway through, at best, was disappointing for the home side.

There is a worst case scenario that could see Cairns miss all the side's games and that he could go to the World Cup in South Africa without any international matchplay behind him.

Cairns had to undergo surgery to remove floating cartilage from his troublesome knee last week.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, in Hamilton to prepare for his side's second Test of their National Bank series with India said it was very disappointing that Cairns might not be available until so late in the series.

It was a great shame, Fleming said, that Cairns was making every effort to get right but was having these sorts of setbacks.

"The team would love to get him back and to have some preparation before the World Cup," he said.

Equally, however, it was just as important that he had everything right before coming back.

"It's a matter of time and how the rehabilitation goes day by day.

"As his fellow players, we just want to see him involved with the team.

"But we hope he'll be there in his full capacity but we will just have to wait day by day and see how he progresses," he said.

Fleming said it was also disappointing that New Zealand Cricket were being forced to name their World Cup side by December 31, after only two games in the National Bank One-Day International series with India.

The benefits were there for all to see if New Zealand were able to have another week in which players could make their claims for selection, both in the international series and in the domestic State Shield competition.

© Cricinfo