Smith emerges a key player in talks over Oz pay row
captain Steve Smith is believed to be playing a key role between the warring parties in Cricket Australia (CA) and Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), as they struggle to find a solution to the pay dispute issue which left as many as 230 male and female cricketers ‘jobless’ at the end of June.
The 28-year-old Smith has reportedly had several telephonic conversations as well as meetings with the ACA and CA over the past few days.
Notably, Smith, who was on a long vacation with girlfriend Dani Willis in the US where he proposed to her as well, was criticised for not speaking publicly over the matter.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Smith is a ‘players man and has repeatedly expressed his backing of the ACA and its core belief in the revenue share model, as well as endorsing its “peace plan”.’
The report claimed that Smith has been in touch with ACA chief Alistair Nicholson for past few months, he has been talking over phone recently with him as well as with Pat Howard — the General Manager Team Performance.
TRICKY STATE
In 1997, Mark Taylor brokered a deal just a few days before ‘strike action’, and went on to describe that period as ‘one of the most trying of his career’. Smith finds himself in a similar situation.
The talks between Nicholson and CA chief James Sutherland continued on Saturday in Melbourne, with the Bangladesh tour for two Tests impending.
On his part, Sutherland praised Smith for his role and the challenges he has faced. “Steve would find himself in a difficult position. Someone like Mark Taylor, who was really in the middle of those negotiations when that first MoU was struck in 1997 — at times he reflects on how difficult and challenging a period that was,” Sutherland was quoted as saying to The Sunday Telegraph.
“I have nothing but the highest respect for Steve Smith and his values and ideals. He loves the game and I know he as much as anyone in Australian cricket wants to see the Australian cricket team back playing and him leading them back onto the ground in Dhaka (in August),” he added.
Steve (Smith) has been an outstanding leader throughout this entire negotiation as you would expect. ALASTAIR NICHOLSON, On Smith