McCullum stands by testimony against Cairns

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has said he stands by the evidence he gave during Chris Cairns' perjury trial in London, and said he did not need to give Cairns an explanation as to why he testified.

Cairns was acquitted of perjury, and has since publicly questioned why McCullum and Daniel Vettori did not come forward with evidence against him during a previous libel trial in 2011.

McCullum was keen to shift focus to the Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins Thursday, but did speak briefly on his role in the trial.

"From my point of view, I was comfortable with the evidence I gave in London," McCullum said. "I stand by that evidence. It was a pretty big deal in New Zealand cricket, and now that it's over, it's time to move on."

McCullum felt his professional standing remained undamaged despite the trial's verdict. "I don't think my reputation has been on the line during the whole thing. I was one of a number of witnesses who gave evidence in the trial. People are going to have their own opinions on what unfolded. I was comfortable with it, and I think it's time to move on and focus on cricket."

McCullum would not be drawn on the eventual verdict. "For me it's not whether someone was guilty or not guilty, my role was to go and give the evidence in the trial and remain pretty unemotional about it, to be honest. "

In a column for Fairfax New Zealand on Sunday, Cairns had asked: "Why didn't he [McCullum] come forward to [Lalit] Modi before my 2012 libel trial? McCullum had given a statement to the ICC in February 2011 with Dan Vettori present and both men could have helped Modi out then. So, why now?"

It was in response to this that McCullum said: "I don't think I need to [give Cairns an explanation]."