Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent has openly discussed his battle with depression, which contributed to his involvement in a match-fixing scandal during the early 2000s.
After losing his central contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Vincent joined the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2008, where he was introduced to match-fixing by former all-rounder Chris Cairns. His decision to participate in corrupt activities ended his promising career.
At the time, Vincent was a key player for New Zealand, having played 23 Tests and 108 ODIs. However, his career declined rapidly after his involvement in fixing, with his last international match in 2007. He later played in England’s County cricket and various T20 leagues.
In 2014, Vincent, then 29, was banned for life by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after admitting to 18 breaches of anti-corruption regulations, including fixing incidents in T20 matches involving Lancashire and Durham in 2008 and other games in 2011. This marked the first lifetime ban for a New Zealand cricketer.
Vincent’s ban was lifted last year, giving him a chance to rebuild his life and domestic cricket career. Reflecting on his journey, Vincent shared with The Telegraph: “So, I didn’t have the mental package to be a professional sports player. So, at 28, I was deeply in depression and then went to India and was dragged, sucked into that fixing world. It was pretty easy to see how it happened. I felt like I was part of a gang. It almost made me feel better, because I am thinking, ‘I am part of a match-fixing gang.’”
“I am with a group that’s going to have my back, and nobody knows our little secret. I literally raised myself from the age of 12, so I was always quite malleable to people around me. Because I wanted to be loved, you’re easily led astray. And, you know, that contributed massively towards my professional career of just wanting to be liked, wanting to be loved, and sort of sharing how I was feeling on tour.”
He further explained the emotional and psychological challenges he faced, including feelings of isolation, homesickness, and the pressures of maintaining form. Vincent described how fixers manipulated him, using subtle threats and creating a sense of obligation, leaving him feeling trapped. Ultimately, he confessed as a way to escape their control and start anew.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Stay ahead of the latest cricket industry trends by subscribing to our free cricexec “daily briefing” newsletter.
Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
