Cricket’s pay stoush looks over

A record player payment pool of $500 million will form the cornerstone of cricket’s five year pay deal which was finally agreed to yesterday.

An in-principal heads of agreements has been signed with a view to players having an official vote on the proposal which the Australian Cricketers Association has recommended they give the green light.

The Ashes have been saved and captain Steve Smith is now free to lead his men to Bangladesh later this month, Australia’s first Test tour there since 2006, and female players have secured the biggest pay rise in women’s sport.

The modernised revenue share model will give big increases in payments to international and domestic players with roughly 120 female players included in the deal for the first time.

Back pay will be given to the roughly 230 players who have been out of contract since the previous Memorandum of Understanding expired on June 30, which includes national and state players, once the new deal is finalised, which could take up to six weeks.

Key elements of the deal include:

Revenue sharing model for all players, male and female Australia’s elite men’s cricket will the highest paid of any sport in the country. Player payment pool to equal $500 million.

Players to share in 30 per cent of forecast revenue

$25 million will flow to grassroots cricket from the players if forecast revenue is achieved

Uncontracted players, when the MOU is finalised, will receive back pay

"It will restore much needed security to the game of cricket," Sutherland said. "It’s a sensible compromise from both parties.”