Auckland: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has said that Jeetan Patel's injury is not serious and that he should be available for selection for next month's tour of Sri Lanka.

Patel suffered a minor knee injury while playing for Warwickshire in the English County season, and will return to New Zealand next week.

Dave Currie, the team manager, said Patel would regain fitness soon and added that the spinner had been assessed in England by New Zealand physio Jane Stalker. "Jeetan just needs a couple of weeks to recuperate after suffering a sprain to the medial collateral ligament of his right knee," he said.

"He will rest the knee for a short while but will resume training within a couple of weeks and should be bowling in the nets soon thereafter. We are confident that he will be back to full fitness in time to be available for the Sri Lanka tour."

New Zealand begin their tour of Sri Lanka on August 18 and will play two Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals.