Cricket: Cairns: Nash always had my back

Chris Cairns (far right) says his former Black Caps teammate and close friend, Dion Nash (second from left) has been a strong source of support.

In the subsiding wake of match-fixing allegations against Chris Cairns, and the lengthy perjury trial which ensued, many high-profile cricketers have dissolved ties with the once-idolised New Zealand all-rounder.

However, upon his acquittal in the Southwark Crown Court yesterday (NZT), the 45-year-old has revealed former Black Cap and Northlander Dion Nash never gave up on him.

Breaking down as he thanked his supporters back home, Cairns singled out his close friend and former teammate.

"He's been fantastic and a real mate, so thanks to Nashy," he said.

Unavailable to speak to the Northern Advocate yesterday, Nash told ONE News that he did not want to comment on the case as he was conscious a number of former teammates, including Cairns, would be "hurting" and he did not want to "inflame" the situation.

"The best thing for [the] NZ cricket community is we all move on and somehow heal the rifts that have happened through this," he said.

Springing on to the Northland cricket scene as a promising 18-year-old, it didn't take long for Cairns to make an impact on the region's selectors.

Fast-tracked into the Northland XI, his first outing - a Fergus Hickey Rosebowl match against Counties Manakau, in which he was awarded man of the match - was well documented in the Northern Advocate's November 7, 1988 edition.

Headlined "Dream debut for Cairns junior", the coverage read: "Generating rare pace and maintaining it through several short sharp bursts, [he] did everything and more expected of him".

Adding that "he had that wicket-hungry look from the outset" en route to 6-55 in Counties' second innings, it also detailed "he, along with his father Lance Cairns, Craig Presland and [Murray] Child fully exploited the conditions".

Eventually going on to play for Onerahi Central at club level, Cairns again played alongside his New Zealand cricket legend father, Lance Cairns, whose ties to Northland are still strong.

Fast-forwarding 27 years, Cairns, yesterday, lashed out at New Zealand Cricket and former players for their treatment of his father, in an interview with Newstalk ZB.

"Dad, I really feel for him," Cairns said of his father, who is held in high esteem not just in New Zealand cricket circles but around the world.

"There were people that he played with in the 70s and 80s, and we all have fond memories of those teams, but they turned their back on him," he said. "Whilst I can understand from my point of view - if people have got a view or opinion of me, then that's one thing - but those players of that era should have been rallying around Dad and supporting him whether I was guilty or not guilty."