THE ENGLAND opener Nick Knight had surgery on the triple fracture of his left index finger in Auckland yesterday but could miss Warwickshire's start to the season. Their opening fixture will be away to Glamorgan on April 23rd, the much awaited meeting between Allan Donald and Waqar Younis.

Warwickshire confirmed yesterday that they will be talking to Knight but chief executive Denis Amiss said "It looks to me as if it will be touch and go whether he will be fit in time for the opening game. It looks a nasty break, being so close to the knuckle, and will have to go back exactly into place."

Knight had already got permission to miss Warwickshire's preseason visit to South Africa at the end of the month. Amiss explained "They want the Test squad to rest before the long season at home.

England coach David Lloyd, in Wellington yesterday to prepare for the fifth and final one day international against New Zealand, confirmed that Knight had remained in Auckland and that the operation had gone successfully.

Knight's Test place is under some pressure and he could be replaced by Surrey's Mark Butcher or by England middle order man John Crawley.