Cricket Australia is "seeking to replace the existing revenue-sharing model," a move that has left Aussie team captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and their teammates "unimpressed," according to Wally Mason of THE AUSTRALIAN. These "multi-millionaires in flannel are threatening to rob Australian sports fans of the greatest spectacle" in their country, the Ashes. That "raises the prospect of the Ashes beginning in November with a team of second stringers." And "who suffers from that?" Not the players. The "ones to suffer will be cricket fans." Fans will "either miss out on the Ashes all together" or they will "get to sit through dreary contests" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/16). In Sydney, Nicole Jeffery reported former cricketer Adam Gilchrist said, "I wouldn't be encouraging anyone to be talking about strike action. This dispute doesn't have to be that extreme, it doesn't need to damage the game at a time when it seems to be going well." He added that the "biggest losers" in a strike would be the cricket-loving public, "the greatest stakeholders in the game." Gilchrist: "I don't think there's a right or a wrong in this and I think there should be a way forward if both sides try to communicate better" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17).
FEARING FOR CRICKET: The PA's Rob Forsaith reported former England captain Michael Vaughan predicted "similar situations could arise with other boards." He said, "It's great for England to see Australia falling out and fighting with each other but in terms of the game as a whole it's not a great story. I've never seen it to this level. It's sad for the game when you're hearing this but I don't think it will be the last case of players getting together as groups" (PA, 5/16).
