The last time Lou Vincent was at the Basin Reserve cricket ground, he scored an unbeaten 224 runs to help New Zealand defeat Sri Lanka by an innings and 38 runs.
That was in 2005. Nine years later, the former cricket star’s career would collapse.
In 2014, the New Zealand batsman received 11 life bans from the sport after admitting being complicit in 18 breaches of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s anti-corruption rules. The breaches related to Lancashire’s T20 match against Durham in 2008, a Sussex’s match against Lancashire in 2011 and a Sussex’s 40-over match against Kent in 2011.
In 2023, the 45-year-old former New Zealand cricketer’s bans were reviewed on appeal, following a decision by the Cricket Disciplinary Commission.
“I made a terrible mistake many years ago that I will deeply regret for the rest of my life, and I remain very sorry for the damage I caused,” he said last December, now that the easing of his ban means Vincent can now attend or train matches at the professional national level.
Last week, he was a guest speaker at a breakfast at Basin Reserve, as England and New Zealand faced off in their second Test of the series.
New Zealand cricket star Lou Vincent has opened up about his life after he was banned from cricket for match-fixing.
The former Black Caps star said the most devastating aspect of the ban was that it had “alienated” him from his daughters.
Speaking in front of a room of 120 people, the New Zealander revealed how he coped with the loss of his cricket career.
He compared his situation to that of a doctor who is discharged after a long career in the profession. he said The telegraph: ‘It’s like, “Damn, where do I go from here?”‘ But Vincent isn’t looking for sympathy.
While he lost his career, Vincent revealed in the courtroom that his marriage had also broken down and that he was heartbreakingly “alienated” from his two daughters.
“Some members of my family have turned against me, and I have had to live with it, but I have faith that time heals many wounds,” he told The Telegraph.
‘Being away from my two daughters will always be the most devastating thing. And I hope that over time, with the little things I do in public, my daughters will see that dad made mistakes and hopefully see me as a good guy and reconnect with me.”
Vincent insisted he wanted to return to cricket, adding that he had missed the camaraderie of his former teammates and said he wanted to give something back to the sport.
‘Losing respect in the cricket world is something that has been difficult, but again, self-inflicted. I will never make an excuse or blame anyone but myself. Then we’ll see where it takes me. Today could be a start.
In the years since his suspension was announced, Vincent has worked with the players’ union to help educate others on anti-corruption issues.
Vincent said he was not looking for any sympathy as he spoke to an audience at a breakfast before New Zealand’s clash with England.
His ban was reviewed last year and the former New Zealand international said he wanted to give something back to the sport.
He also revealed that he had received abuse from some members of the public while going about his daily life and some called him a ‘cheater’ in the middle of the street.
He also revealed that he had received abuse from some members of the public while going about his daily life.
The 45-year-old recounted an occasion while walking down a street in Auckland when a man verbally berated him, calling him a “cheater”. He also uncovered an incident that occurred in a bar in Lumsden, on the South Island of New Zealand. Several of his neighbors had “pushed him out of a pub” after he had invited them out for a drink. They also called him a “cheat” claiming they didn’t want him to live in their neighborhood.
His mental health suffered in the years that followed, with Vincent saying: “It was like the knock-on effect of match-fixing, then family court and then my children.” It was very delicate and clever. Even four years ago, I asked myself, “What is the meaning of life?” He is constantly punched and kicked. And then it was like, “Hang in there.”
During his career, the 45-year-old scored 1,332 runs in 23 Test matches and scored 2,413 in 102 ODIs for New Zealand.
Sir Richard Hadlee had presented him with his commemorative 100th ODI cap in early 2024, a gesture for which he said he was grateful.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be properly received in Sussex.” But as long as they know my intentions are for the good of the game and if people understand the whole story (not so much sympathy but understanding), you never know.’
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