The last time Lou Vincent was at the Basin Reserve cricket ground, he scored an unbeaten 224 runs to help New Zealand thrash Sri Lanka by an innings and 38 runs.
That was back in 2005. Nine years later, the former cricket star’s career career would come crashing down.
In 2014, the Kiwi batter was handed 11 life bans from the sport after he admitted to being complicit in 18 breaches of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s anti-corruption rules. The offences related to T20 matches for Lancashire against Durham in 2008, a game for Sussex against Lancashire in 2011 and a 40-over match for Sussex against Kent in 2011.
In 2023, the former Kiwi cricketer, aged 45, had his bans revised on appeal, following a decision by the Cricket Discipline Commission.
‘I made a terrible mistake many years ago which I’ll deeply regret for the rest of my life, and I remain very sorry for the harm I caused,’ he said last December, with the easing of his ban now meaning that Vincent can now attend or coach matches at the professional domestic level.
Last week, he was a guest speaker at a breakfast event at the Basin Reserve, as England and New Zealand squared off in their second Test of the series.
New Zealand cricket star Lou Vincent has opened up on 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 Kiwi revealed how he coped with losing his cricket career.
He likened his situation to a doctor being struck off the register after a long career in the profession. He told The Telegraph: ‘It’s like: “Hell, where do I go from here?”‘ But Vincent is not looking for sympathy.
While he lost his career, Vincent revealed to the room that his marriage had also broken down and he was heartbreakingly ‘alienated’ from his two daughters.
‘Some members of my family have been turned against me, which I have had to live with, but I have faith that time heals a lot of wounds,’ he told The Telegraph.
‘Being alienated from my two daughters will always be the most devastating thing. And I’m hoping, over time with little bits I do in public, my girls will see that Dad made mistakes and they’ll hopefully see me as a good guy and reconnect with me.’
Vincent insisted that he wanted to return to cricket, adding he had missed the camaraderie of his former team-mates, and said he wanted to give something back to the sport.
‘Losing respect in the cricketing world is something that has been hard, but again, self-inflicted. I’ll never make an excuse or blame anyone else apart from myself. So we’ll see where it takes me. Today could be a start.’
In the years since his ban was announced, Vincent has worked with the players’ union to help educate others on anti-corruption topics.
Vincent said he wasn’t looking for any sympathy as he spoke in front of an audience during a breakfast event ahead of New Zealand’s clash against England
His ban was revised last year, and the former Kiwi 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 he went about his day-to-day life with some calling him a ‘cheat’ in the middle of the street
He also revealed that he had received abuse from some members of the public while he went about his day-to-day life.
The 45-year-old recounted a time while he was walking down a road in Auckland when one man verbally berated him calling him a ‘cheat’. He also lifted the lid an incident that took place in a bar in Lumsden, in New Zealand’s South Island. Several of his neighbours had ‘pushed him out of a pub’ after he had bought them a drink. They also branded him a ‘cheat’ claiming they didn’t want him living in their neighbourhood.
His mental health suffered in the years that followed, with Vincent stating: ‘It was like the knock-on effect from the match fixing, then the family court and my kids. It was very touch and go. Even four years ago, I was like: “What’s the point in life?” Constantly getting punched and kicked down. And then it was just like: “Hang in there.”‘
During his career, the 45-year-old scored 1,332 runs across 23 Test matches and knocked 2,413 in 102 ODIs for New Zealand.
He had been presented with his commemorative 100th ODI cap earlier in 2024, by Sir Richard Hadlee, a gesture he said he was grateful for.
‘I can’t see ever being properly welcomed back at 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 have sympathy but understanding – then you never know.’
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Aoake te Rā – Free, brief therapeutic support service for those bereaved by suicide. Call 0800 000 053.
Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737
