Mind the (pay) gap for women

Several of the women’s players who take the field today in the first Super Smash T20 game will be earning 88 per cent less than their male counterparts, even though they are playing the same format, in the same conditions, on the same day.

The gap comes from the base payments offered to male and female cricketers. Men receive a base retainer of at least $27,000 for the season, while 54 contracted domestic women across the six major associations – who sit outside White Ferns centralised contracts or casual playing contracts – receive $3250 ‘‘compensation’’.

There is a 100 per cent gender pay gap in Super Smash match fees. For the doubleheader between Wellington and Auckland at the Basin Reserve today, men will receive a $575 match fee.

The contracted domestic women do not receive a match fee. Women on casual contracts receive an appearance fee of $130.

Under contract, men must be available for a minimum of 52 playing days across the three formats during the season. Women are to be available for at least 20 playing days across Super Smash T20 and the one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield competition.

Domestic female players are considered ‘‘amateur’’ by New Zealand Cricket, with their participation in cricket considered secondary to other fulltime employment. Men are contracted fulltime for seven months of the year.

Female players are halfway through their three-year Master Agreement with New Zealand Cricket, which introduced payment for domestic women players for the first time.

Within the agreement – which was negotiated by the New Zealand Cricket Players Association – women received a player payment pool of $4.136 million over three years, including increased contract numbers for the White Ferns, and the introduction of development contracts.

Blaze captain and White Fern Maddy Green said the statistics were ‘‘pretty damning’’ but the introduction of contracts for domestic players two years ago was a positive start.

‘‘I have full faith in the Players Association in what they are doing for us in advocating for women’s cricket, and women’s sport in general. It’s not something that’s going to happen overnight ... but we are moving in the right direction.’’

Cricket Players Association chief executive Heath Mills said payment for domestic women’s players was a ‘‘big step forward’’ but there’s more to be done.

‘‘Clearly we need to grow the women’s game and work with New Zealand Cricket to increase the overall remuneration package to women’s cricket,’’ he said.

NZC said in a statement it was pleased with the progress ‘‘made so far’’ regarding the women’s game.

‘‘However, this is an evolutionary process, it’s not something that happens overnight, and we’re confident we’ll continue to move in a positive direction when the existing Master Agreement comes up for renegotiation.’’