The integrity of county cricket was shockingly called into question after allegations of corruption in county matches by former Test batsman Lou Vincent.
The ex-New Zealand opener told the sport’s anti-corruption unit he knew of six other players who had been involved in fixing and says three county games he was involved in between 2008 and 2011 were targeted by bent bookies. Inducements to cheat included cash, sex and even a bottle of perfume.
In documents seen by Sportsmail, Vincent spills the beans to ICC officials about the tricks of the fixers’ trade — part of a plea bargain which he hopes will save him from punishment.
Vincent says he was paid £40,000 by Asian bookies to throw a CB40 game for Sussex — one of several matches he helped fix around the world,including a Twenty20 Champions League game for Auckland Aces against Hampshire in 2012.
Cricket’s latest scandal comes at the worst possible time for the domestic game in England, with the NatWest T20 Blast beginning today with seven matches.
England’s international season gets under way with a Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka at The Oval on Tuesday and captain Eoin Morgan said: ‘It’s terrible for the game, it takes the life and soul out of it.
‘It’s horrific to see a game you love and have worked so hard to uphold the values of dragged through the mud.’ – Daily Mail