Grass-root Cricket Needs More Investment In Australia: James Sutherland

May 24, 2023 at 12:57 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
Grass-root Cricket Needs More Investment In Australia: James Sutherland

Grassroots cricket in Australia needs more investment according to the overhaul of the current remuneration model, as proposed by  Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland.

But perhaps CA’s greatest problem has been its inability to publicly justify its most compelling case – that by removing fixed percentage payments in the new memorandum of understanding (MoU) and cutting costs at national and state level by $25 million, it can increase funding for grass roots by up to $76 million over the next five years.

There are few playing or working at the local clubs who would not agree that more money is needed for initiatives prioritised by Cricket Australia – increasing game development staff, rolling out new junior formats, enhanced school programs, expanding women’s and girls’ competitions, boosting volunteer programs and improving facilities identified by a detailed national audit.
Speaking on ABC television on Thursday (May 25), Sutherland said an audit had shown a financial injection was needed at the grassroots level. 
“I’m a coach of an under-13 cricket team. I know and understand the challenges that cricket clubs face,” he said. “We’ve identified that we need $20-30 million a year to really make a difference. On the facilities side, we’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Sutherland said those struggles meant an overhaul of the current revenue-sharing model was justified. 
“We don’t want to entirely abandon it, but we do want to modernise it … in the interests of the whole game,” he said. “We believe the model has served a purpose where previously the players were not well paid. They are well paid now. We’re pleased about that … but we have this responsibility to grow the game in the grassroots.”
Sutherland said he was frustrated by the continual impasse.
“We have a very strong and generous offer on the table and we haven’t sat down to talk about it,” he said. “It’s over two months now since we put that offer on the table and I don’t see why we haven’t had one single conversation about it. We’re increasingly concerned that the players association isn’t acting in the players’ interests.”
The clash between ACA and CA has a deadline of June 30th. But Sutherland is confident that the deal would be sealed off by June 30,
“We are very clear in our view that once we sit down with the ACA, we’ll gain momentum very quickly,” he said.

Related Article
James Sutherland Announces his Resignation as Cricket Australia’s Chief Executive
James Sutherland Announces his Resignation as Cricket Australia’s Chief Executive

Jun 6, 2018, 5:27 PM


Cricket Australia Scraps Bangladesh’s Tour Down Under Due to Financial Reasons
Cricket Australia Scraps Bangladesh’s Tour Down Under Due to Financial Reasons

May 9, 2018, 9:33 PM


Michael Clarke Ready to Help Cricket Australia in Any Role
Michael Clarke Ready to Help Cricket Australia in Any Role

Apr 8, 2018, 12:08 PM


Ball-Tampering Row: James Sutherland’s position safe at CA, says David Peever
Ball-Tampering Row: James Sutherland’s position safe at CA, says David Peever

Apr 6, 2018, 6:33 PM


Ex IPL Commissioner Lalil Modi Threatens Australia CEO James Sutherland
Ex IPL Commissioner Lalil Modi Threatens Australia CEO James Sutherland

Mar 30, 2018, 3:27 PM


Michael Clarke Believes Cricket Australia Did Not Divulge Full Details Regarding Sandpaper Gate
Michael Clarke Believes Cricket Australia Did Not Divulge Full Details Regarding Sandpaper Gate

Mar 28, 2018, 10:56 AM