Women’s pay deal ‘important step forward’

The player payment pool will double for White Ferns’ women’s cricketers under a new landmark agreement.

The agreement, reached in principle by New Zealand Cricket and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, represents a major breakthrough for women’s cricket in New Zealand, particularly in terms of financial consideration for players below international level.

A total women’s player payment pool (White Ferns, development players and domestic players) of $4.136 million has been created over the three-year term of the new Women’s Master Agreement – an annual payment of $1.38m.

This means, with match fees, White Ferns can earn up to $80,000 (up from $48,000 in the previous agreement). The agreement doubles the current White Ferns player payment pool of circa $500,000 to bring it to $1.1m for the 2019-20 year.

Seventeen (up from 15) centrally contracted White Ferns earn a minimum of between $44,000-$64,000 annually.

Other features of the agreement sees domestic players included for the first time, increasing the total number of players on contract to 79 – up from 15 in the previous agreement. There will be nine retainers per each Major Association (54 in total) worth $3250.

White Ferns captain Amy Satterthwaite hailed the new agreement.

‘‘I know people tend to focus on the White Ferns’ contracts, but the investment in domestic and developing players is an important step forward for women’s cricket in New Zealand.’’

The agreement is the result of negotiations between the NZCPA and NZC and, when finalised, will replace the former memorandum of understanding, which expired on July 31.