The lawyer for Chris Cairns has attacked the credibility of the former Black Cap Lou Vincent, who says Cairns paid him to fix cricket matches.
Cairns, 45, a former New Zealand all-rounder, is on trial in London accused of lying under oath during his successful 2012 defamation case against the former Indian Premier League chairman, Lalit Modi, who had accused him on Twitter of match fixing.
Lou Vincent leaving court with his wife Susie Photo: RNZ/ Cushla Norman
Vincent, 36, is the first in a long list of well known New Zealand and international cricketers to appear as a witness in the trial at the Southwark Crown Court in London.
Giving evidence in court today, Vincent said he fixed five cricket games under Cairns's orders.
In 2008, the former opening batsmen signed a $US350,000-a-year contract to play in the ICL for the Chandigarh Lions, which Cairns captained.
Vincent told the court his introduction to match fixing for Cairns came after he was approached to fix by an Indian man, Varun Gandhi, with offers of cash and a prostitute.
Vincent refused his offers and said he told Cairns about the approach and how he had reported it, to which Cairns replied that would be "good cover" and that Vincent was now working for Cairns.
Under cross examination Vincent later admitted he did sleep with the prostitute.
But, Cairns's lawyer, Orlando Pownall QC said Vincent's account of events had changed over the years and he had lied on numerous occasions.
Mr Pownall attacked Vincent's credibility and referred to his troubles with depression, cannabis and alcohol, saying the cricketer could have said anything to anyone.
He also questioned why it took Vincent six or more years to recall the events of 2008 and suggested he collected a trail of evidence over the years in the hope it would help him later.
Vincent said the reason why he never came clean about match fixing sooner was because he was not in a good place mentally.
Mr Pownall also put it to Vincent that his account of events had changed over the years and that he had lied on numerous occasions, to which Vincent replied: "I've been a disgraceful human being."
Cairns fumed over failed fix, court hears
Earlier Vincent told the court Cairns came at him with a bat, saying he had cost him millions for failing to under-perform in an Indian Cricket League match.
He said Cairns told him to get 10 to 15 runs off 20 balls, then get out.
Chris Cairns is on trial for perjury Photo: Getty Images
In one game in the ICL on 15 April 2008, Vincent scored 28 runs, more than he was meant to. Vincent told the court that after that game a fuming Cairns summoned him to his hotel room, where he grabbed a cricket bat and went to hold it over Vincent's head.
Vincent said Cairns told him he had cost him millions and that he never wanted to see him again. Vincent described the experience as harrowing
Vincent admitted he had not mastered the art of getting out very well, but said Cairns suggested he use his time in the UK between the April and October ICL tournaments to practice under-performing.
In the northern hemisphere summer of 2008, Vincent went to play cricket in England for Lancashire. It was during this time that Vincent said Cairns got in touch with him again about match fixing.
Vincent said he was excited when Cairns made contact and saw it as an opportunity to repair their relationship.
Vincent, who has suffered depression, said he got an amazing sense of belonging when he fixed for Cairns and felt like his idol has taken him under his wing.
However, the court heard Cairns told Vincent that he would need to earn his trust back and instructed him to under-perform in a game against Durham on 15 April at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Vincent said he last fixed for Cairns in October 2008, however he did take up a second offer to start working for Varun Gandhi and fixed for him or passed on information until the end of his career in January 2012.
Vincent told the court he never received any money from Cairns apart from $US2,500 in cash which Cairns gave him and Daryl Tuffey for spending money on a trip to Dubai.
However, he said he received £50,000 from Mr Ghandi and £45,000 from another Pakistani businessman.
Mr Pownall told Vincent he had also broken the law in the UK and could still go to jail for money laundering and contravening the bribery and corruption acts.
Justice Sweeney warned Vincent he did not have immunity from prosecution in the UK but that he could invoke court privilege so as to not incriminate himself.
The Cross examination of Vincent will continue tomorrow. His former wife Eleanor Riley is due to give evidence on Wednesday, while Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum is expected to appear on Thursday.
