Fears grow for Ashes as pay row drags on in Australia: Report

Australia’s cricketers have been warned this year’s Ashes series could be scrapped, even if a new pay deal is reached with the game’s governing body, reports said on Saturday.

Australian Cricketers Association chief Alistair Nicholson has warned the players via email the showpiece Test series against England, due to begin in Brisbane on November 23, is under threat.

Negotiations over a new Memorandum of Understanding between players and Cricket Australia have all but broken down, although Nicholson and CA counterpart James Sutherland are scheduled to meet on Sunday, Fairfax Media said on Saturday. “If there is agreement, the next step would be the more intensive MOU and contract drafting period,” Nicholson told the players in an email, seen by Fairfax Media. “Given past experience and the massive detail involved, this would take some time and still may not be completed with time enough to meet the needs of fans, sponsors and broadcasters invested in the upcoming tours and the (Australian) summer of cricket.