Vincent faces Cairns's defence

Defence lawyers in Chris Cairn's perjury trial have suggested his former New Zealand cricket teammate and key Crown witness Lou Vincent's version of events is "absolute nonsense".

Vincent told the trial at Southwark Crown Court on Monday that he had match fixed "under direct orders from Chris Cairns".

He said he went to Cairns after being approached about fixing when he arrived at the ICL, and, unexpectedly, was encouraged to work for him by cheating.

"He turned to me, looked at me and said 'You did the right thing' and 'That's good cover. Right, you're working for me now'," Vincent told the court.

Cairns faces a charge of perjury and one of perverting the course of justice in relation to a 2012 libel trial.

In a second day of evidence on Tuesday, Cairns's lawyer, Orlando Pownall QC, sought to dig holes in Vincent's account, suggesting to the former New Zealand cricketer that he was "lying to this jury".

"An account that's been rehearsed over the years and isn't true," Mr Pownall said.

He raised questions about Vincent's story of his meeting with the man who initially approached him about fixing, suggesting it was "absolute nonsense".

Mr Pownall also questioned the closeness of Vincent's relationship with Cairns, suggesting Cairns was a mere acquaintance and questioning why he would so readily disclose match fixing to Vincent.

Vincent rejected the point, saying Cairns was "a mate" who had attended his wedding, and reiterated that Cairns had said there was no problem with fixing games at the ICL because it was an unsanctioned tournament.

After on Monday referring to teammate Daryl Tuffey, telling the jury "I have no hesitation at all in saying he was involved" in fixing, Tuffey's name was again raised in his second day in court.

Vincent said that while he had refused to supply a false statement for Cairns's libel action in 2012, Tuffey had "signed that paragraph."

"Where is he now?" Vincent asked the court, questioning whether he'd be back to "support Chris again?"

Justice Nigel Sweeney shut down the topic, telling Vincent: "Council asks questions, not you".

The trial continues.