Chris Cairns' mother has spoken of her relief this morning after the former cricketing all-rounder was cleared of perjury.
Sue Wilson said that she had talked to her son, revealing he was "very emotional".
"We're just really pleased and will be pleased to have him home for Christmas," she said from her Christchurch home," she said.
"He was very emotional. He thanked us for our support and said he'd see us soon.
"It's been years.... pretty hard for everyone. It'll be good to get him back home."
Cairns has had "close family support around him all the way" and she said that would continue. "We've been there... we haven't been over there but we've been supporting him from here," she said.
It was a "shame" that he indicated he'd no longer be involved in the sport.
"[Cricket] has been his life for years and ours too... we've lived it for years, haven't we. It's such a shame, but it's his choice and we have to go along with that. It's very sad."
Ms Wilson wouldn't comment on whether Cairns had been vindicated by the decision and whether some people still cast doubt over his alleged role in match-fixing.
At their Mt Smart fortress, Auckland FC were mauled 4-0 by Western United