When Brendon McCullum testified at the trial of Chris Cairns, the defence asked why he had not come forward with his allegations much sooner than he did.
Many would not need to ask that question. It is not always easy to put somebody in trouble, especially when that person is somebody you have admired and played alongside. McCullum's eventual decision was courageous, not only because he knew at the time it could expose him to a grilling in court and also because the case could come down to technicalities of law.
But the verdict of not guilty for Cairns should never diminish this country's pride in McCullum and appreciation for what he has done for cricket in this country. As his lawyer Garth Gallaway has said, the judge told the jury they needed to believe at least two of the three people who gave direct evidence. Lou Vincent and his former wife were the others Mr Galloway refers to, and Vincent was tainted by his own admissions.
Pride and appreciation might not be the words that come to mind when we remember the parade of some of our best known cricketers in the London court over the past two months. At the very time the All Blacks were doing us proud, on and off the field, at the Rugby World Cup, across town in the Southwick Crown Court, cricket was under a cloud.
It is not much comfort that the matches at issue did not involve the New Zealand team; many of those featuring in the case had made their names wearing the black cap.
The corruption of cricket by bookmakers on the subcontinent is a problem for the game wherever it is played professionally. Match fixing is almost impossible to prove from general play. Batsmen often get out from a stroke they should not have played, bowlers can be hit around even when they are delivering every ball as best they can. Their team and its supporters have to trust their intentions. No suspicion arises unless they, or those bribing them, say something indiscreet.
When that happens, the International Cricket Council needs players of integrity to inform its anti-corruption unit. The head of the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association, Heath Mills, fears they will now think twice about coming forward. The ICC needs to make it clear to players that this case was unusual. The accusation of spot fixing was incidental to a charge of perjury, a serious offence in the eyes of the law, requiring a high standard of proof.
Corruption of sport offends principles dear to all who love a fair contest of skill and disciplined effort. Anyone who would deliberately lose or perform badly for a bet is no sportsman or woman. He or she lacks the essentials: the pride of performance, the competitive spirit, the loyalty to his or her team, the respect for the sport and the appreciation of those who have paid to watch him or her play.
Brendon McCullum exhibits all these qualities. This case must not discourage true sportsmen and women who may be as brave.