Family bore brunt of trial: Cairns

Chris Cairns laments the impact his perjury trial has had on family members, saying his celebrated father Lance was cast adrift by his playing peers.

Former Black Caps captain Cairns was found not guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice by a jury at London's Southwark Crown Court, ending a two-month trial.

Cairns says he has been largely shunned by players of his era since allegations of match-fixing arose two years ago.

The 45-year-old says former teammate Dion Nash was an exception and he appreciated his support.

However, he was surprised and disappointed Lance Cairns - also a long-serving former New Zealand allrounder - was left to cope with the stress of the situation on his own.

"There were people who he played with in the 70s and 80s, they turned their back on him," Chris Cairns told Newstalk ZB.

"While I can understand that people have got a view or an opinion, those players from that era should have been rallying around dad and supporting him.

"Whether I was guilty or not guilty, they should have been there for him. It was a really average display of support for dad."

Lance Cairns attained cult hero status during a 12-year international career, renowned for his lower-order big hitting and effective swing bowling.

Chris Cairns says the allegations had affected all of his family.

His mother Sue had taken time off work for the duration of the trial while he had been apart from his wife Mel and their two children for that period because they couldn't afford to be in London.