No sooner is all-rounder Chris Cairns back performing for New Zealand than he is afflicted with another injury problem.

Cairns suffered a patella tendon strain in his right knee, he thinks while fielding a ball on the first day, and while it is a new injury it is in the knee he had operated on last summer.

New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart said it was a very frustrating injury for Cairns who had worked so hard to be ready for this series.

"We don't know how bad it is going to be," Aberhart said.

Yesterday, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming complained that the outfield of the dual purpose rugby-cricket ground was very heavy and it had affected his bowlers.

Aberhart didn't know if it had any effect on Cairns' injury but it is difficult to escape the conclusion that it played a part.

Aberhart said that in his view the outfield wasn't only heavier but was also rougher.

He said that Cairns was a professional and would work hard to make sure his knee was right in the future.

He added that Cairns would bowl in the remainder of this first Test but his condition would be assessed after that.

If it didn't recover immediately, Aberhart said he expected Cairns would do everything to have it right for the future, including his forthcoming season with English county Nottinghamshire.

© CricInfo