Cricket: British media react with cynicism to Cairns aquittal

Former Black Caps all-rounder Chris Cairns was acquitted of perjury late last night. Photo/Getty.

News that former Black Caps all-rounder Chris Cairns was acquitted on all charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice has seen British media react with cynicism and suspicion that cricket continues to be marred by corruption and match-fixing.

The validity of the trial result and the effectiveness of the lengthy anti-corruption investigations have been questioned after Cairns' defence exposed contradictions in witnesses' statements, and the International Cricket Council's corruption unit was undermined by procedural failures.

The trial result had little impact on The Telegraph's Scyld Berry, who opened his analysis with a warning about the scandalous state of the game, saying: "Don't let the Chris Cairns verdict fool you - cricket is a long way from consigning match-fixing to history.

"There is too much smoke, if not outright fire, to be complacent about match-fixing and spot-fixing in cricket."

The trial process and the outcome frustrated him no end, with Berry adding: "It's the same as usual. Once again the lid has been lifted, giving us a tantalising glimpse of the corruption in cricket, before being slammed shut."

While the trial had not revealed many new details about the sketchy nature of the Indian Cricket League, Berry believes it uncovered alarming information about the inner workings of the allegedly corrupt official cricket circles both at the time of the ICL and now.

"New Zealand's captain Brendon McCullum testified that Cairns had told him that 'everyone else was doing it in world cricket'. Even if we take them with many grains of salt, these words suggest that fixing has been, and probably is, frequent in certain parts of the cricket world.

"It would be a bold, and probably credulous, person who said the corruption in the ICL was confined to that competition and quarantined there. 'Everyone' would be overstating the case, one hopes, but that could still leave 'plenty'."

The Guardian's Elizabeth Ammon, who attended every day of the perjury trial, echoed Berry's concerns over corruption in the game.

"Given the evidence for the Crown was based largely on players coming forward, the acquittals raise serious concerns for the sport's attempts to combat fixing," wrote Ammon.

She went on to describe Cairns' ordeal throughout the nine-week trial, noting that despite being under intense strain and scrutiny, the 45-year-old, "had looked calm and relaxed for the most part, often chatting amiably with journalists during breaks in proceedings. At the verdict Cairns looked understandably relieved and had a pat on the back for [co-accused, Andrew] Fitch-Holland, who was close to tears."

Ammon added that the immense financial cost of Cairns and Fitch-Holland's legal aid would be absorbed by taxpayers, while she speculated on the detrimental effect the not guilty verdict and the grilling key witnesses received in court would have upon other cricketers considering whether to speak out against fixing.

"Cairns and Fitch-Holland have had legal representation using legal aid and the cost of this case to the public purse will run well into seven figures," observed Ammon.

"The not guilty verdict is a blow to the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] and the ICC's anti-corruption unit and will surely raise questions about how their investigation was undertaken.

"Given the rough ride some of the witnesses were given about their changing statements to the ICC, there will also be questions about whether other cricketers will now be willing to come forward and give evidence about approaches."