Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns on Saturday (February 5) revealed that he is suffering from bowl cancer. This comes as a huge setback as Cairns was discharged from hospital last week. Last year, in 2021, Cairns suffered from a heart attack and a subsequent paralysis. He was discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for almost five months.
While talking about his latest health status, Cairns spoke on social media that it was something not what he “was expecting” and it came as a “big shock.”
Cairns on social media
"Another fight ahead but here's hoping this one is a swift upper cut and over in the first round,” the former New Zealand all-rounder said on social media.
"I was told yesterday I have bowel cancer... big shock and not what I was expecting,” Cairns added.
The 51-year-old former cricketer did not forget to mention how lucky he was “to be here in the first place.”
"So, as I prepare for another round of conversations with surgeons and specialists, I keep remembering how lucky I am to be here in the first place,” the Marlborough-born all-rounder further added.
Facts and numbers
Cairns had played in 62 matches for his country in the longest format of the game. He has picked up 218 wickets and scored 3320 runs in Test cricket. Cairns bagged 5 centuries and 22 half centuries in Test cricket. He made his debut in Test cricket, back in 1989, against Australia.
In ODIs, he played his first match for New Zealand in 1991, against England and in total played in 215 matches. In ODIs, Cairns scored 4950 runs at an average of 29.46. He notched 4 centuries and 26 half centuries in ODIs.
In the bowling department, he picked up 201 wickets in ODIs with a best figure of 5/42. His last ODI match took place against Sri Lanka, back in 2006, at Napier. On the other hand, in Test cricket, he played for his national team for the last time, in 2004 against England, at Nottingham.
In the shortest format of the game, the former all-rounder made his debut for New Zealand, in 2005 against West Indies.
