Cairns appears in court

New Zealand cricket great Chris Cairns appeared in a London court on Thursday charged with perjury relating to a libel action he brought in England in 2012.

Cairns won 146,000 dollars after he sued former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi over a 2010 tweet accusing the all-rounder of match-fixing during his time in the now defunct Indian Cricket League.

However, Cairns was charged with perjury and appeared before a judge at London's Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.

Cairns, who lives in Auckland, appeared alongside lawyer Andrew Fitch-Holland, who faces one count of perverting the course of justice.

Fitch-Holland, 49, was lead adviser to Cairns in the action against Modi.

The pair spoke only to give their names.

Judge Alistair McCreath gave both Cairns and Fitch-Holland unconditional bail to appear for a plea and case management hearing at the same court on January 16 next year. Both men have previously indicated they will contest the allegations.

The trial, which could last for up to a month, is expected to begin in early October next year, traditionally a time when there are few major fixtures in cricket's otherwise crowded calendar.