Match fixing is a crime, no doubt about it and there need to be criminal repercussions for those found guilty.
Growing up as a cricket fan in the late 1990s I have always been aware of match fixing.
There was always a question mark over New Zealand’s victories over subcontinent teams after which most Kiwis would ask of the opposition, “I wonder how much they got paid for that?”
Now the reality is that match fixing is not limited to just a select few from the subcontinent and South Africa, but is occurring all over the world including, allegedly, by New Zealand’s Black Caps.
Match fixing can be something as simple as giving a bookie a tip about the pitch conditions to full blown trying your best to play badly.
One could argue that over the past five or six years this could partially explain why the ‘Caps’ have performed so abysmally.
However this is not the case with this particularly trio named as the alleged match-fixers Lou Vincent, Daryl Tuffey and the great all-rounder Chris Cairns come from an era before that when the Kiwis were more than competitive.
In fact you could argue they came from a period in which New Zealand had its most successful period over the late 90s and early 2000s since the halcyon days of the 1980s.
Although one would be extremely naïve to think that no New Zealanders are cheaters, it does come as a surprise that some may resort to this.
Chris Cairns is one of New Zealand’s greatest cricketers and barring injury may have become an all-time great of the game.
Of course he has faced these sorts of accusations before and defended them successfully in a court of law.
Lou Vincent on the other hand left the game in New Zealand after suffering from depression and Daryl Tuffey seemed to fall of the map.
It will be interesting to read further in the coming days about these accusations.
Whether they are match fixing or spot fixing, how much money was involved and which games were affected.
On the topic of spot fixing I do remember watching a one-day international between New Zealand and Australia in 2005 and thinking what I was seeing was very dubious.
As the old saying goes, innocent until proven guilty. Until these claims are backed up by sufficient evidence and we give them their day in court, lets cut them some slack.
If these accusations are in fact the truth then cricket really needs to make a stand and make sure fraud charges are laid against match fixers and jail terms are served.
Otherwise those of us who grew up loving cricket will continue to switch off because these days we don’t know what we are viewing is reality or in fact fantasy.
Good Game
Guest
You can't bribe the Black Caps to lose, they'll do it for free and it's just a performance incentive if you need them to win. This need to be thrown out now.
Tiger
Guest
Oh really not untouchable..interesting..maybe your definition is different..Well let's take the drug scandal..what was suppose to be a mandatory two year ban for using illegal substances was halved to a paltry one year 'holiday' and he marched straight back into the Aussie team when he returned. Um also about that match fixing scandal..he got a little fine that was HUSHED up by the ACB..and a little know fact is he kept the money the bookie gave him..add that to his match payment..oh and minus the little fine..can't forget that..and he actually made a tidy sum of money..more then if he got match payments alone..lucky he took the call about the state of the pitch! But you know it's not really fair to look at these two incidents in isolation..yeah let's take into account his over the top questionable antics on the field and off the field. Abusing opposition players to the point of having to be restrained by his teammates. Carrying on like a pork chop on the balcony at Lord's after an Ashes win (I will say at least he didn't pee on the pitch!) How about the time a Kiwi kid took a picture of his idol and because Warnie was smoking..he'd just signed a deal with a company who promotes quitting smoking..he smashed the kids camera! These are just the tip of the iceberg I could go on..but I won't!! Through all this Shaaaaaane's records still stand..at least other drug cheats lose something..Armstrong, Contador..anyone?? Warnie's punishment was reduced!! Now he's got a nice job as a commentator on the cricket..even got a statue outside the MCG..revered and loved by people who perhaps choose to forget what a 'nice' person he really is..sends a great message to kids..In the end if you are good on the cricket pitch, the football pitch, the golfing green, you are..what's that word again? Oh that's right, UNTOUCHABLE..
soapit
Roar Guru
try and get your thoughts in order before you post. warnes supposedly untouchable yet was also convicted for drug taking?
Tiger
Guest
Ps..Match fixing isn't just about the end result it's about the little bets along the way..pitch condition could determine the odds of what the winner of the toss would decide to do..bat or bowl..it's a perfect example of match fixing..and geeze they KNEW he was a bookie and he paid em for the info..HELLO? As a professional player you would report the guy to team officials.
Tiger
Guest
When you get paid for it..it is..when the ACB cover it up..it stinks even more! But Warne was untouchable in those days (still is..the morally corrupt and convicted drug cheat that he is) so what do you expect? As for M. Waugh where did he end up..oh that's right horse racing..mmm a punters delight! Aussies (I'm one) are unbelievable..they ACTUALLY get caught (either betting or taking banned substances) and they deny it..and what really gets me is certain prominent figures in the media support them..BUT..when a sportsperson from a nation that competes against Australia is SUSPECTED of illegalities..not actually caught betting or failing a drug test..but suspected..Aussies are first to point the finger and take the moral high ground! I'm afraid corruption in sport escalates with the amount of money that is bet on it..both illegally and legally.. It's sad to think that great comeback, or the underdog victory, or the guy from no where winning, could be the result of money exchanging hands rather then an amazing effort!
Mike
Guest
I think the black caps will play proper cricket from now on now that they know there are private investigators watching around cricket circles.
James
Guest
you could also reverse all those matches NZ have lost and now record them as wins. Im sure we would shoot up the rankings if it wasnt for this
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Speaking of NZ, cracker of a Test match developing ... Bravo scoring a double ton after following on four hundred behind. Windies now lead by 49 with 4 wickets in hand.
formeropenside
Guest
It was only the ICL, its nothing cricket. Who cares? Anyone silly enough to bet on sport in the first place hardly has cause for complaint. If it was Test cricket, I'd be concerned. But cheating in a private 20/20 comp like ICL or IPL? I'm not sure there is any pointless competition than that. Even park cricketers play for pride, which is more than can be said of the various 20/20 sideshows.
Cantab
Guest
No chance of them being charged criminally if they have not broken NZ laws, they're not going to get extradited to India.
Morgan Popham
Roar Pro
Agree. But what happens as in this case when the players have already retired? Ban them from commentating, commenting, coaching? If so how do they implement this? I think the only way is for criminal proceedings depending on the severity of the corruption. Thanks for the comment.
Lachlan Doyle
Roar Pro
I can't believe that players will risk losing a match for the country for a few hundred dollars! Why train all your life to play for your country only to make them lose! If the ICC find out that a player has been fixing a match, they should ban them for life.
Matt
Roar Rookie
Exactly. A bit like Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth DOWN!!
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
That is easily the most suspicious over I've ever seen. His action didn't look that bad he just seemed to be guiding the ball where he wanted to.
Bobbo7
Guest
Agree. Just too much crap in that over. Surely after the second of third ball you would just bowl a slow straight ball to get the radar back
Bobbo7
Guest
If found guilty any player should get a life ban and jail. Fans spend a fortune on going to games, pay TV and tops to support sports teams. Cheating must become a crime.
Luke Smyke
Roar Pro
Wow i dont remember that over from Tuffey. That was ridiculous. Very dubious indeed.
cantab
Guest
Agree 100% but if it's ICL (and i g'tee it is) ...then what can you do? working in a foreign country not even contracted to cricket NZ, ten years ago... sack Cairn from from commentary job...but from a legal point of view that's it.
cantab
Guest
I guarantee IF there is any truth to this it will be from ICL, the players got f'd over there big time and all three played for the same team. (does not make it ok)
cantab
Guest
There is an element to that, as a long time suffering NZ die hard cricket fan... it wouldn't be all that bad if they just came out and said they threw ever game.