Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent has bravely opened up about his struggle with depression, which ultimately led him down a dark path into the match-fixing scandal of the early 2000s.
After losing his central contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Vincent joined the now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2008. He was introduced to match-fixing by former all-rounder Chris Cairns in India, and his decision to be involved in corrupt activities destroyed his career.
Lou Vincent reflects on his journey from depression to a match-fixing scandal
At the time, Lou Vincent was a rising star, having represented New Zealand in 23 Tests and 108 ODIs. Vincent’s fall from grace was swift, as his involvement in match-fixing brought his career to an early end. After playing his last international match in 2007, the former Kiwi batter continued his career in England’s County cricket and participated in T20 leagues globally.
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But the shadow of match-fixing loomed large, as in 2014, at the age of just 29, Vincent was banned for life from all forms of cricket by the England Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after pleading guilty to 18 breaches of anti-corruption regulations, including charges related to T20 matches between Lancashire and Durham in 2008 and other matches in 2011.
With the lifetime ban, Lou Vincent became the first New Zealand athlete to face such a severe punishment for his involvement in corrupt activities. However, last year, Vincent’s life ban was lifted, offering him a chance to rebuild his life and career in domestic cricket.
Didn’t have the mental package to be a professional sports player: New Zealand’s Vincent
Lou Vincent was quoted as saying by 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.”
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The former New Zealand batter continued, “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.”
Lou Vincent reveals how homesickness and pressure encourage him to accept match-fixing involvement
At the end, Vincent also opened up about the struggles he faced during his career, sharing how small issues like homesickness or a lack of form led to him being dropped from the New Zealand team. He also opened up about the pressure and manipulation he faced, explaining how match-fixers used subtle threats to control him.
Vincent also revealed that even after being involved in fixing, he felt trapped, with the fixers always reminding him that he “owed them” and that escaping was nearly impossible. Ultimately, he felt confessing is the only way to be free from their grip, and he did that.
