Cricketers hurting, says Warner

AS players start to feel the financial pinch, Test star David Warner has blasted Cricket Australia’s tactics in the ongoing pay row.

Crisis talks are continuing in an attempt to end the pay impasse, but Warner says players are suffering through CA’s fault.

“We offered $30 million of our money to grassroots as a peace plan. It was ignored,” Warner said on an Instagram post.

“We asked for mediation twice before and it was rejected.

“Now CA says there is a cri- sis. The players are unemployed and some are hurting financially but continue to train.

“Administrators all still being paid. How is it our fault no deal is done?”

Warner and fringe Test paceman Jackson Bird said players were steadfast behind the Australian Cricketers’ Association.

The players’ union said it had been pushing for mediation all along, with about 230 cricketers effectively unemployed since the start of the month after the expiry of the last pay deal.

Warner, one of the richest cricketers in Australia, evoked the emotion of the baggy green cap to plead the players’ case.

“This Baggy means the world to me. Myself and all the other cricketers female and male want to get out there and play,” he said.

Fast bowler Bird said players remained united.

“It’s obviously not an ideal situation,” Bird told Australian Cricket Podcast. “It’s important that all the players stick together.”

Bird has been training, hoping for a call up for Australia’s two-Test tour of Bangladesh in late August — should the pay dispute get sorted.

CA CEO James Sutherland has suggested short-term contracts could cover the Bangladesh tour.

“It obviously plays on your mind a little bit not having a deal done,” Bird said.

“There’s a lot of guys that [it’s] playing on their minds a little bit more than the guys that are still on contract.

“Hopefully that will get sorted out pretty quickly.”

Sutherland on Thursday said arbitration was a logical step if the stalemate continued early next week.