Australia's "richest cricketers are refusing to share" with women players a record A$58.5M ($44.5M) bonus that "will see seven-figure cheques mailed to current and former Test stars on the eve of an Ashes series now under threat from a protracted pay dispute," according to Chip Le Grand of THE AUSTRALIAN. The Australian Cricketers' Association's rejection of a Cricket Australia proposal to carry forward half the sum owed from '12-17 into the next pay deal means "women cricketers helping to grow the sport will receive nothing," while a retired player such as Shane Watson, a member of the ACA exec, will pocket nearly A$2M ($1.5M). Under the formula "agreed to in a recently expired memorandum of understanding" between CA and the ACA, "above-forecast revenue owed to the players is paid out pro-rata, according to individual contracts from the corresponding years." About A$30M ($22.8M) will be shared among the top 30 cricketers, with "hundreds of current and former male state cricketers to divide up the rest." The ACA decision to "deny women the financial spoils of the past five years is at odds with its criticism" of CA for refusing to include women in a future revenue-sharing agreement (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/6).
ONE MORE YEAR: REUTERS' Sudipto Ganguly reported Australia's cricketers and board "should extend their previous agreement by 12 months while they attempt to find a solution to a bitter pay dispute," former captain Michael Clarke said on Tuesday. Clarke: "What needs to happen is keep the current MOU for the next 12 months and allow the players to get back to what they do best. Cricket Australia, the ACA, please go behind closed doors and sort this in private" (REUTERS, 7/4). In Sydney, Peter Lalor reported Australia's cricketers entered their sixth day of unemployment with "no sign of the warring parties backing down or finding common ground." CA "made it clear it will not pay the 230-odd players who find themselves out of contract." The ACA is "most concerned about the rookies" who can earn as little as A$40,000 ($30,400) and "lower-rung" state players who earn A$62,800 ($47,700). Female players are in the position of "turning down the biggest pay hikes of their career." CA, too, is "facing financial restrictions." Players are "almost certain not to go to South Africa at the end of the month for an Australia A tour," but canceling the seven-match ODI tour of India in October "could come at significant cost" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/6).
