Former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns is driving trucks and cleaning bus shelters to make ends meet.
In a perfect riches-to-rags story, former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns has been forced to drive trucks and clean bus shelters to pay for bills and support his family. The famous cricketer is currently working with the Auckland council for a $17-dollar-an-hour salary. The 44-year-old Cairns currently lives with his wife and 4 kids.
The news of Cairns working as a truck driver and bus shelter cleaner was confirmed by one of his best friends Dion Nash, who is also a former New Zealand cricketer. Dion Nash said, “he has no choice, he has to provide for his family … We have bills to pay like everyone else. We don’t own a house, we’re paying rent like many other people and getting by is a struggle.”
The former all-rounder’s wife Mel Croser is working full time at a project management company contributing to the family income. The family continues to live in Herne Bay, which is said to be the most expensive suburb in Auckland.
Chirs Cairns is currently under investigation by British authorities in alleged match-fixing charges. The International Cricket Council had been given evidence that a high-profile cricketer had approached Brendon McCullum for spot-fixing. This player is said to be Chris Cairns, however, he completely denied all charges and pleads that he is innocent
Cairns alleged that “there were dark forces at play which had long arms, deep pockets and great influence.”
Chris Cairns is one of the finest all-rounders New Zealand has ever produced. In the 215 ODIs he played, he scored 4,950 runs at an average of 29.46 and claimed 201 wickets.
In 2012, he won a libel action against former Indian Premiere League chief Lalit Modi in London over a match-fixing tweet. He won £90,000.
Cairns is still awaiting the decision by the British authorities and is continuing to make ends meet for his family. His fans across the world have been saddened by this news. One fan posted on twitter, “Chris Cairns cleaning bus shelters? Why?: When the greatest fall, they perhaps fall the hardest.”
