Desperate times need desperate measures — and for former cricket star Chris Cairns, these measures include working at bus shelters in Auckland and driving a council truck.

Cairns, who is facing a perjury charge, has legal bills mounting — and while he continues to live in Auckland’s most expensive suburb, he has taken to working for $17 an hour at the bus shelter.

The report also quoted Cairns’ wife Mel Croser: “He has no choice, he has to provide for his family.”

The New Zealand Herald, which also reported the story, quotes Cairns’ best friend Dion Nash as saying: “He’s trying really hard and supporting his family the best way he can. He’s not moping around, he’s showing guts and doing hard work by cleaning bus shelters. All I can do is support him, but as a friend it is really hard to watch his name being dragged through the mud with no conclusion in sight.”

The report also quoted Cairns’ wife Mel Croser: “He has no choice, he has to provide for his family … We have bills to pay like everyone else. We don’t own a house, we’re paying rent like many other people and getting by is a struggle”.

Not far back, in 2010, Cairns had proposed to Croser with a 3.2 carat diamond ring.

Cairns has vehemently denied all cheating claims as the investigation continues.