Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum will speak out against his hero and friend when he appears as a prosecution witness in Chris Cairns's perjury trial in London.
McCullum is one of a number of current and former professional cricketers who'll give evidence at the trial, in which Cairns faces charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice in relation to a 2012 libel case.
As the trial began in Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Sasha Wass QC said Cairns had unsuccessfully tried to get McCullum to help him fix matches in the Indian Cricket League in 2008.
"Mr Cairns told Mr McCullum everyone was doing spread betting and he didn't want Mr McCullum to miss out," Ms Wass told the court.
"Mr Cairns explained how he would be able to get Mr McCullum between $70,000 and $180,000 per game."
He also explained how he was able to get money back to New Zealand without people asking questions.
While McCullum said he did not want to get involved, he did not lodge an official report at the time.
It was not until February 2011 that he raised the case with the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, which acts against cricket corruption across the world.
Ms Wass said he should have reported the dishonest proposal at the time, but "he will tell you he regrets that but explains it on the basis that Mr Cairns was a hero of his".
"Mr McCullum will tell you that Chris Cairns was one of his idols: someone he looked up to and aspired to emulate," Ms Wass said.
"When Mr McCullum started to play cricket professionally, it was Mr Cairns who was helpful and protective towards him. They became friends."
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