McCullum book slammed by Cairns
Chris Cairns says he is “naturally disappointed” allegations of matchfixing are being re-litigated in Brendon McCullum’s book Declared.
“If Brendon does not want his career to be defined by me, perhaps he should stop talking about me. Simple,” Cairns said in a statement.
“I am trying to move on with my life and I suggest Brendon does the same. I hope he finds peace in his retirement, and I hope for his sake, that he never has to go through what I did in mine.”
McCullum dedicates five chapters of his autobiography Declared on aspects of his allegations against Cairns, from reporting the alleged approach to fix a match, to the lead up to the trial, giving evidence in court, and the subsequent fallout.
Cairns denied he approached McCullum to underperform and was found not guilty of charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice last December.
McCullum’s evidence was repeatedly attacked by Cairns’ legal team during the trial, particularly the three year delay before he reported the alleged approaches from Cairns and the “shifting sands” of his three statements to investigators.
“There have been inconsistencies and inaccuracies in Brendon’s story from the beginning and not surprisingly this occurs again in his book in a number of respects,” said Cairns.
“There are things that Brendon could never have forgotten if his version of events was correct.
“Things which he inexplicably omitted and added to his third statement after the news became public. But he chose to not write and explain about those,” said Cairns.
“All of the evidence has been considered to a degree of detail impossible to summarise in the media during both a High Court trial and then a criminal trial. I have been found not guilty.
“I am trying to move on with my life and I suggest Brendon does the same.”
Ross Taylor, who McCullum replaced as skipper, is keeping his distance from controversy around the book.
New Zealand Cricket’s manager public affairs, Richard Boock, said Taylor had not read it and “is not really interested in rushing out to find a copy.
“At the moment he’s concentrating all his energy and attention on playing for New Zealand.”
Asked about the book as a whole, Boock said: “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion and equally, there are two sides to all stories.
“This is Brendon’s book and we’re not interested in judging it.”