Cricket Australia shifts ground on pay offer

CRICKET Australia has revamped its pay offer to players, offering a greater share of international surpluses.

The change in tack comes seven days before the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) expires on June 30.

CA has indicated it intends to include domestic players in its sharing arrangement and will increase annual pay rises to state players. It is unclear how much it will rise above the intended $20 million cap on the share of international cricket surpluses.

The governing body, which has started to offer individual contracts to players, remains adamant the existing revenuesharing model is untenable.

That stance has caused immense friction with players, who called for emergency mediation at CEO level yesterday.

CA’s latest missive is unlikely to be well received by the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA).

The two parties are expected to meet on Monday.

If they’re unable to broker a new deal next week, or agree on temporary measures, then the sport will be plunged into absolute uncertainty.

It will mean hundreds of players are unemployed and leave a question mark over all future series, starting with next month’s Australia A tour of South Africa.

Vice-captain David Warner has indicated the Ashes could be at stake.

The union boasts 100 per cent membership of domestic and international players.

“The players are completely united behind the ACA in these negotiation terms,” skipper Steve Smith said in a video yesterday. “We know that they’re working incredibly hard for us to get the best outcome for the game.”

CA’s chief negotiator Kevin Roberts contacted Alistair Nicholson, head of the players’ union, yesterday. Roberts insisted CA had listened to feedback from players and was being flexible.

ACA president Greg Dyer issued a public statement, saying it was time for mediation at chief executive level.

CA continues to declare its boss James Sutherland, who will return to Australia next week after attending International Cricket Council meetings, will not be involved in talks. It is one of many points of contention.

“The ACA continues to search for ways to resolve the dispute,” Dyer said. “We are motivated by a sense of duty to the game and players and frustration at the current process.”