Lou Vincent: Former New Zealand batter no longer banned from all cricket worldwide

Opener Lou Vincent scored 2,413 runs in ODIs for New Zealand

Former New Zealand batter Lou Vincent has had his life ban from all cricket for match-fixing revised on appeal.

Vincent, 45, remains banned from international cricket, but can now be involved at the domestic level or below following the decision of the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC).

The CDC said he had shown the "very best efforts to make amends" since being banned in 2014.

Vincent said being able to return to cricket "means the world" to him.

"I made a terrible mistake many years ago which I'll deeply regret for the rest of my life, and I remain very sorry for the harm I caused," he said.

"Being able to return to the cricket environment means the world to me and I feel very fortunate to again have that opportunity."

He was given 11 life bans from cricket worldwide by the CDC after admitting 18 breaches of the England and Wales Cricket Board's anti-corruption rules in three English domestic matches played in 2008 and 2011.

Vincent, who played 23 Tests and 102 one-day internationals for New Zealand between 2001 and 2007, also appeared in county cricket for Worcestershire, Lancashire, Northamptonshire and Sussex.

He admitted match-fixing offences in T20 games for Lancashire against Durham in 2008 and for Sussex against Lancashire in 2011, as well as a 40-over match for Sussex against Kent, also in 2011.

Vincent also admitted match-fixing charges relating to the Champions League T20 in South Africa in 2011 and 2012.

The appeal, which Vincent submitted in August this year and was heard by Gerard Elias KC on behalf of the CDC, featured evidence from the ECB, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Elias said Vincent's application was "supported by the most powerful and compelling evidence demonstrating the very highest levels of contrition and remorse and the very best efforts to make amends wherever possible".

He added the decision was taken in light of Vincent's "full and frank admissions", his "immediate and total co-operation" with the authorities and his participation in anti-corruption education programmes for both NZC and the ECB.

It means Vincent can now attend or coach in matches at the professional domestic level or below around the world.

The New Zealand Cricket Players' Association (NZCPA) and NZC both welcomed the ruling.

"The penalties have been particularly hard on Lou and he's shown a lot of humility in owning his mistakes and setting about making amends" said NZCPA chief executive Heath Mills.

NZC chief executive Scott Weenink added it was "good and right" Vincent could be involved in cricket again.