Australia’s upcoming tour of India is "looming as the brightest flashpoint in cricket’s pay war" as the days tick down to the June 30 deadline for a new deal, according to Andrew Faulkner of THE AUSTRALIAN. For "all the concerns" about the Bangladesh tour in August, and the "uncertainty" about the home Ashes series, canceling the five ODI Indian tour in October "could cost Australian cricket more than it can afford to lose." Offending India "could jeopardise the nations’ reciprocal agreement" that has the BCCI touring Australia in '18-19. Indian tours "generate big money and Cricket Australia risks forgoing the rivers of gold that will flow from hosting four Tests against the world cricket powerhouse." Pay talks between CA and the players’ union are "set to continue this week and both sides say they are committed to striking a new memorandum of understanding before the June 30 cut-off" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/19).
'PUSH MORE': In Melbourne, Daniel Cherny reported Australian cricket vice-captain David Warner said that he is "happy to be the public frontman for Australian cricketers in their fight to retain a fixed percentage of revenue," but concedes captain Steve Smith could "probably push a little bit more" when it comes to stating the players' case. Warner has been the "most outspoken" of Australia's leading players on the pay matter, "flagging" the possibility of a players' boycott during next summer's Ashes if the players "do not get what they want." While standing with his colleagues, Smith has taken a "less vocal approach, trying to downplay the prospect of industrial action." Warner said, "From where I stand and the position I take on this, I try to take as much heat off [Smith] as possible. ... In this circumstance I'm willing to go out there into bat for everyone. Yeah sometimes he could probably push a little bit more, but I think he's doing a great job, as well as other players like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood as well" (THE AGE, 6/18).
