Chris Cairns says he has 'no time' for cricket after he was cleared at Southwark Crown Court

Having been found not guilty of both perjury and perverting the course of justice, former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns has told Sky Sports News HQ he is relieved that a "dark cloud" over his life has finally lifted.

Cairns said that, although he will turn his back on cricket, he is trying not to feel too bitter towards people who he feels have not supported him at a difficult time.

A conviction for perjury could have led to a jail sentence for Cairns but a nine-week trial ended with a jury deciding Cairns had been truthful when he said at a 2012 libel trial that he had "never, ever cheated at cricket".

And co-defendant Andrew Fitch-Holland, a barrister and former legal adviser to Cairns, has also been cleared of perverting the course of justice.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ after the verdict on Monday, Cairns said: "It has been a living hell for two years and obviously that is enhanced by the process that you go through.

"It is a robust process, one that is unequivocal, and I can't thank the jury enough for finding the right result.

"I didn't hear the verdict but I saw Fitch's face and he was very happy, so I knew it had gone our way.

"It has been a hellishly painful experience and one that I certainly don't wish to repeat.

"I have my prison bag with me today. I packed a bag for last Friday and we were very respectful of the process.

"We were not arrogant enough to think it was all going to go our way."

Looking towards the future, Cairns does not think he will get involved in cricket again.

He added: "I have been burnt pretty much beyond recognition in cricket and I have been thrown from pillar to post and used as a rag doll to try and reach a certain scenario for organisations or for people.

"I have got no time for cricket at all. I am pretty resilient but it has taken its toll.

"I don't intend to sit back though, I will keep moving forward.

"It is hard because jubilation is not an emotion that comes to mind with regard to this and nor is victory.

"This is something that allows me to move on with my life and get back home to my family now and have Christmas with my kids. There was a very real possibility that I was going to have Christmas in prison.

"With regard to what is out there, who knows? I will just take a breath and not have a dark cloud hanging over me, as it has for the last two years."

Regarding his treatment by people within the game, Cairns said he was trying to understand their motivations.

"I do feel a bit upset about being, sort of left in the cold, with regard to some people who I thought were friends in the game," Cairns said.

"But then again, I have taken the view that people have mortgages and have to protect their jobs and their lives. They perhaps had to side with looking after their interests.

"Once you work through all that, you realise people can't support you as much as they would like to.

"Hopefully those people will see that I have come through this and I am not someone who is going to carry a grudge.

"It will be interesting to see who gets back in touch."