A year-long pay dispute between cricketers and the game’s governing body has finally been settled, in what is being heralded as a major win for the sport’s female players.
Negotiations for the new five-year pay deal began with male players back in November 2016, with Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketer’s Association announcing yesterday that an agreement had finally been reached.
For the first time, the deal also covers the sport’s female players, and guarantees that state and international players will pocket up to 30 per cent of an estimated $1.67 billion in revenue over the next five years.
The new deal is lauded as the biggest pay rise in the history of women’s sport in Australia, with female player payments increasing from $7.5 million to $55.2 million.
The new revenue share model has increased the pay of international, state and Big Bash League players.
Salaries for international female cricketers will increase from $40k to $87.6k over five years, while state player pay packets will increase from $11k to $27.3k.
"The men and women have been rewarded for sticking together and for having the courage of their convictions," CA president Greg Dyer said in a statement released after the agreement was announced.
"They have made history and created a legacy for generations of players to come."
The new deal comes after it was revealed the top female cricketer's annual retainer was $65,000, while her male counterpart received close to $900,000.
Top Comments
"The new deal comes after it was revealed the top female cricketer's annual retainer was $65,000, while her male counterpart received close to $900,000."
You are aware that male players are the ones that bring in all the money????????????????????????????????????????
What Australia's highest paid male Netball player on?
$900K for any sportsperson is an obscene amount. We have our priorities completely wrong if we think they are worth that.
Have you seen our Australian Male Cricket team play the past few years? I wouldn't pay them a penny.
Comparisons between sexes is ridiculous. Supply and demand forces at play. Just like female models get paid many multiples of what men get (as theirs is a more lucrative market), male cricketers also get paid more for a reason. I mean, have you compared the crowd numbers lately???
Just had a look at the BBL.
Over 1,000,000 attended the men's competition whole around 120,000 went to the women's.
Proving the pay rise is indeed justified. The women's BBL drew 12% of the men's number. 12% of the average retainer for a male cricketer ($900 000 according to this article), is $108 000, which is far less than the current amount of $65 000 for females. Of course, this is a simple calculation based on limited data, however; given the projected revenue for female cricket, the pay rise is justified and absolutely based on 'demand forces' rather than gender comparison (last bit is for poor old wounded bull).
It's actually very simple: bigger crowds and extended broadcasting rights = more revenue = a salary increase for the hardworking female players.
That's based on the assumption that income is a straight line calculation. For instance the WAFL got reasonable attendence, but no one was paying for tickets.