Australia's cricketers face "the very real prospect of being physically locked out of all training facilities and denied access to coaches and specialists" when the MOU expires in three weeks' time, according to Ben Horne of the HERALD SUN. Cricket Australia is reportedly "yet to make a decision on whether or not it would lock the doors on its players" should scheduled talks with the Australian Cricketers' Association later this week "fail to produce an outcome." The States are "desperately hoping they would be able to allow players" to continue preseason training using their facilities and staff "in the event of no deal being signed off on." However, if CA were to choose to "adopt a hard line stance to mirror their original threat of unemployment, they may be forced to fall in line with the governing body." There are "also insurance concerns over who is protecting players if they train in official facilities without an MOU" (HERALD SUN, 6/12).
TOUR-BY-TOUR BASIS?: In Melbourne, Jon Pierik reported Australia's top cricketers "will only consider accepting tour-by-tour contracts if they see progress in the pay dispute this week." If "even a basic understanding between the players and CA is not reached by June 30," contingency plans for an Australia A tour of South Africa next month and the Test tour of Bangladesh in August "will have to be raised." Players reportedly "could be offered tour-by-tour contracts." CA "would have to agree to not lock the players out" come July 1. But for this to be agreed upon, it is understood players "want progress to be made this week in talks," as they argue they have been willing to be "flexible." Australian coach Darren Lehmann said the team is preparing "despite the uncertainty." Lehmann: "We're really getting ready for Bangladesh. That's all we can do. The rest of it will look after itself, I am sure" (THE AGE, 6/12).
