Chris Cairns' wife, a key witness, refutes match fixing claims

Chris Cairns and Mel Cairns at an event in Auckland in 2014

Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns’ wife, Mel, has refused allegations regarding match-fixing discussions in a Manchester bar, saying it never took place, reports ESPNCricinfo.

When asked by Cairns' barrister Orlando Pownall, Mel quashed suggestions that such discussion of fixing had taken place. Mrs Cairns, who appeared via video link, replied: "Absolutely not”, after being quizzed on the same.

"The jury had earlier told about a night out in Manchester in 2008, where the former wife of Lou Vincent gave an evidence that Cairns had said he was confident he would get away with fixing because "everyone was doing it in India". She is one of the main prosecution witnesses in this case.

Vincent was already involved with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) alongside Cairns, and playing for Lancashire at the time he said he was under “direct orders” to fix matches.

Chris Cairns already has the charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice pressed against him during his 2012 libel case against Lalit Modi where he denied all the allegations.

Would never lie to help Cairns: Mel

While Cairns was still married to his previous wife, he met Mel in 2008. Both of them lived together in Dubai where Cairns has said he was looking to get involved in the diamond trade. The couple got married in 2010 and now have two children.

The crown prosecutor, Sasha Wass QC, overpowered Mel saying that she was lying to protect her husband. Wass had previously suspected that the money Cairns was paid by an Indian diamond company was in fact "a reward for fixing cricket matches". Mel Cairns said: "I would never lie to help my husband in court."

The Australian player who used to play basketball in the US said she "absolutely would not have a relationship" with Chris Cairns if match-fixing had been discussed after they had first met.

Mel was giving evidence through a video from the couple's home in Canberra because she said they could not afford for her to travel, although she had wanted to be with Cairns during the trial, which began more than four weeks ago.

"It broke my heart to watch Chris walk every day, alone to and from court, and knowing he was going home alone by himself," she said.

The trial is still going on in the court.