When he denied it, he was lying to the court.
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New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond recalled another game in October 2008 when Cairns was noticeably disappointed when his team won.
Sasha Wass QC, representing the crown, told the jury in her opening address that Cairns explained to McCullum he had a “man in Dubai” who could “clean” money for him to take back to New Zealand “without people asking questions”.
He would try to discredit the Black Caps skipper, who had no reason to speak out other than he was telling the truth. Ms Wass said Vincent’s fixing skills failed him and he remained on the pitch until he was stumped for 28 runs from 27 balls, and was threatened with a cricket bat by Cairns following the performance.
He thought Vincent had issues with depression and drink, he told police.
She told the court in 2008 Cairns asked to meet McCullum in a Kolkata hotel.
It was “hard but not impossible” to prove match fixing, and the only way it could be exposed was if one of the participants in the cheating exposed it, she said.
Miss Wass said the conversation was proof that both Mr Vincent and Fitch-Holland knew the libel case Cairns was bringing was untrue.
Cairns is accused alongside Andrew Fitch-Holland, a friend and qualified barrister who advised Cairns on legal matters. It was not until February 2011 that he raised the case with the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, which acts against cricket corruption across the world.
Fitch-Holland said Vincent could provide testimony to say he was one of the “11 people on the field in those games and from where you were standing everything seemed OK full stop”.
Vincent never provided the statement and past year admitted match fixing, receiving a life ban from cricket. It was a delay, the court were told. he regretted. “It was clear to McCullum that Cairns wanted McCullum to work for him”.
He successfully sued Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi over a tweet accusing him of match-fixing.
The accused will appear in the Manukau District Court today, charged with causing grievous bodily harm.
Ms Wass said after winning the case Cairns must have felt “like he had struck a six”.
“Mr Cairns repeatedly said in statements and confirmed on oath before the court that he had never cheated at cricket”.
Cairns once openly boasted that match fixing “did not matter” in the Indian Cricket League and that no-one could ever prove it, Ms Wass said.
“But Mr Cairns was an arrogant individual and very sure of the power he held over people around him”.
Several umpires would give evidence that they suspect match fixing by players including Cairns, Ms Wass said. “When Mr McCullum started to play cricket professionally, it was Mr Cairns who was helpful and protective towards him”. Why would they want to give evidence to that effect in court?
“So Mr Cairns had a free rein: he could protest his good name and spotless reputation to the rooftops, knowing or believing that he was untouchable”.
“That is what Chris Cairns did: he lied in his witness statements, he lied on oath and he arranged that others should give false evidence on his behalf”. But she said he had in fact “been caught on the boundary” for the Skype call had “demonstrates he and Mr Fitch-Holland were trying to get a witness to lie”.
Fitch-Holland is heard saying “between you and I, we all know a few of what is being said is clearly true”.
Wass told the jury McCullum will describe Cairns as a friend and “one of his idols, someone he looked up to and aspired to emulate”.
Cairns was such a hero to McCullum he did not make an official report on the approaches, she said.
In one match, both sides were trying to under-perform.
The Chandigarh wicketkeeper then came on and unexpectedly scored with enthusiasm, winning the game for Cairns’ team.
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Vincent will reveal he was told by Cairns he would earn $50,000 for each match he fixed.
