NZC´s focus on McCullum

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is eager to protect Test captain Brendon McCullum after Chris Cairns’ trial concluded on Monday.

Former cricketer Cairns was found not guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice by the jury in his trial at Southwark Crown Court.

McCullum alleged during the trial that Cairns had approached him over attempting to fix matches in India in 2008, although this claim was not proven.

NZC chairman Stuart Heal said his focus was on McCullum.

“Brendon is an employee of ours, so we’ve got a duty of care around him that makes sure he’s in a safe working environment and free of harassment and all that humiliation stuff,” he told the New Zealand Herald.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that, but of course we will support Brendon. As I say, he’s our current captain and an employee of New Zealand Cricket.

“We need him on the park leading our side and doing what he does best.”

Cairns, 45, said afterwards he was unlikely to ever be involved in cricket again, with his reputation “completely scorched”.

Heal was unwilling to put a line through cricket involvement for the 62-time Test player and veteran of 215 one-day internationals.

“He said [he would] never [be] involved in cricket and that might be his decision, but as I said to someone this morning, I’m an older guy and I never say never,” he said.

“But today’s not the day to have those conversations.”