Australia's female cricketers just got a massive pay rise. But it's not all good news.

The massive gender pay gap in professional sport has left a sour note on this happy occasion.

The cricket world is celebrating news that Australia’s female players have finally been given a big old pay rise.

It’s a 36 per cent pay rise, which sounds pretty significant. But don’t pop the champagne just yet…

According to an article on Cricket Australia’s website, the rise means that “the payments of the top domestic players rise to $17,000.”

Woop. Di. F*cking. Do.

This from Cricket Australia:

“In addition to domestic payments, CA-contracted cricketers can earn retainers of more than $50,000 – plus tour payments – meaning leading players could now earn up to $85,000 over the coming year.”

$85,000 sounds like a decent amount, right? It’s definitely above the average Australian income. But have you heard how much Australia’s male cricketers are paid per annum?

Australia’s best male cricketers earn more than $2 million a year.

To do the SAME job as the women.

And that comes despite the fact that the women’s team is doing that job more successfully.

“Their nine World Cup triumphs – six in the 50-over game and three in T20s – even dwarfs the incredible success of their male counterparts, who won a record fifth 50-over World Cup title in March,” Cricket.com.au reports.

In fact, the minimum a male player contracted with Cricket Australia will earn is $260,000.

That means the worst male cricketer is still being paid more than three times the salary of the top female player.

It seems professional cricket may be one industry contributing to our national gender pay gap, which reached a record high of 18.8 per cent in February this year.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the cash injection (which increases the Women’s Payment Fund by 36 per cent but leaves it almost $12 million short of the men’s player fund) was an important step towards further professionalising women’s cricket.

“Female players at both domestic and national level devote a huge amount of time and energy to their cricket and this move recognises their commitment and contribution to cricket as Australia’s favourite sport,” Sutherland said.

“We are still working towards the day when Australia’s female cricketers will be able to earn a full-time, professional living from cricket.”

Let’s hope that day comes soon.

Watch fast-bowling sensation Ellyse Perry talk about why she loves the sport:

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When will the bad news end for women’s sport in Australia?