A revelation that three former New Zealand cricketers have been implicated in an anti-corruption investigation has taken the gloss of dominant performance by the hosts in the first Test against West Indies, says Tim Southee.

Former allrounder Chris Cairns, 43, said he was shocked and dismayed to be linked to the probe while former batsman Lou Vincent disclosed that he was one of those under scrutiny by the International Cricket Council.

“No representative of the ICC, New Zealand Cricket or the New Zealand Players’ Association has contacted me in regard to any connection by me to an investigation into alleged fixing, Cairns said in a statement on Thursday night.

He pointed out that a High Court judge in England in 2012 ruled in his favour in a libel trial against Lalit Modi after the former Indian Premier League commissioner accused him on Twitter of match-fixing.

Lou Vincent confirmed he is co-operating with an ICC anti-corruption investigation.

“I wish to let everyone know that I am co-operating with an ongoing ICC Anti-Corruption investigation that has been made public today,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

“This investigation is bound by a number of rules and regulations that mean I am unable to make any further public comment,” the 35-year-old said.

He said he would talk publicly when he was able to, but asked for privacy for him and his family in the meantime.

Southee, who took 4-43 as the home side dismissed the tourists for 213 and enforced the follow on, said the players were saddened to learn about the probe.

“It was a good day and it is disappointing to hear,” he said.

New Zealand need eight wickets to win the Test in Dunedin and Southee said the team were aware of the scandal before they went to the University Oval ground on Thursday.

“There were a few conversations going around, but it is out of our hands, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

He said the team were likely to discuss it again but their main focus was seeking their first Test win under Brendon McCullum.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White did not name the players when confirming the investigation.

“This is an investigation that is being run by the ICC and I simply can’t comment any further,” he told reporters in Dunedin.

White added: “We are shocked and surprised by the allegations.”

No current NZ players are under scrutiny and none of the matches in question was played at home.

Prime Minister John Key said if the allegations proved to be correct, it would be “a very, very serious matter”.