John Aiken’s transformation from a disciplined opening batter in New Zealand’s domestic cricket scene to one of Australia’s most recognisable television relationship experts is one of sport and TV’s most unexpected success stories. Today, Aiken is best known as the straight-talking expert on Married at First Sight Australia (MAFS), but many fans across the world are unaware that he once built a solid career as a first-class cricketer.

A Cricketer Recognised for Something Else Entirely

During the 2025 Ashes in Brisbane, Aiken found himself approached by former England stars Phil Tufnell and Alex Hartley — not for his cricket past, but for selfies and videos as a MAFS personality. Despite playing 11 years of professional cricket, even fellow athletes often have no idea he once opened the batting for Wellington.

Aiken laughs about it now:

“They see me as the guy from MAFS, not the left-hander who played for Wellington.”

At 55, he has fully embraced his second career in media, but cricket remains a huge part of his story.

Early Life and the Making of a New Zealand Cricketer

Born in Sydney and raised in New Zealand from age 12, Aiken rose through the ranks of Wellington cricket. In 1989, he toured England for the New Zealand Under-19s, facing the likes of Mark Ramprakash, Darren Gough and Dominic Cork. He even had the chance to play at Lord’s — every young cricketer’s dream.

Six months later, he made his first-class debut and stunned spectators with a superb 156 not out for Wellington at Lancaster Park.

A Solid Domestic Career With Brushes of Greatness

Although Aiken never earned a senior international cap, he shared dressing rooms with legends including:

• Martin Crowe
• Stephen Fleming
• Chris Harris
• Mark Richardson

He also faced world-class opponents like Jonty Rhodes — who ran him out with a piece of fielding brilliance — and the great Brian Lara during a West Indies tour match.

Aiken recalls his team’s Lara strategy:

“We decided to be polite. We greeted him as Mr Lara and hoped he’d get bored. He smashed our bowler twice out of the ground and then picked out a fielder. We all sighed with relief.”

He also encountered a young Brendon McCullum, who already looked like a future superstar.

Balancing Cricket with Psychology Studies

While building his cricket career, Aiken was also completing a master’s degree in clinical and community psychology. By his mid-20s, he had qualified as a psychologist, but cricket remained his first ambition. Eventually, he realised he wasn’t scoring enough runs to break into the national side.

He retired after the 2000-01 season with:

• 46 first-class matches
• Four centuries
• An average just under 29
• A List A century to his name

A New Life in Australia and the Unexpected TV Break

After retiring, Aiken moved back to Australia and opened a private psychology practice, working with individuals and couples. He occasionally appeared on daytime TV to give relationship advice — but in 2014, everything changed.

A casting team emailed him, inviting him to audition for a new series called Married at First Sight. He landed the role, and 11 years later, MAFS has become a global reality-TV phenomenon, broadcast in dozens of countries.

Aiken has become a core member of the show — known for his direct, often fiery advice as he guides couples through the experiment.

Cricket vs TV: Two Completely Different Kinds of Pressure

Aiken says that in cricket he was constantly over-analysing:

“I’d think about my technique all night. It slowed me down.”

By contrast, TV has allowed him to be more relaxed and spontaneous:

“On MAFS, you just deal with whatever’s in front of you. I’m much more comfortable in the media world.”

He admits that while cricket brought pressure and anxiety, MAFS brings excitement and enjoyment.

Would He Trade Television Stardom for a Black Cap?

Surprisingly, Aiken says no.

“Cricket gave me great moments, but I never got to sit back and enjoy the ride.
MAFS has given me joy.
And yes — strangers can fall in love.”

As the show prepares for its 13th series, Aiken remains one of the faces of a programme that has grown into one of Australia’s biggest entertainment exports — second only, he jokes, to Bluey.