As Australian Cricketer’s Association (ACA) has failed to negotiate over the new payment policy with Cricket Australia (CA), the cricket board’s member and the former Australian cricketer-turned-commentator has revealed to its authorities while stating players are highly likely to go on a strike in July.
In his interview with Channel Nine Network on May 14 (Sunday) as an official member of the CA, Taylor made a startling revelation by stating if the negotiations would fail completely; the players from Australia are expected to call for a strike in a bid to press for their demands, according to the cricketers, who revealed it in January while talking to former Test cricketer himself.
“I have had players say to me in January of this year that we could well be on strike by July,” Taylor was quoted as saying by Channel Nine.
Moreover, the pay dispute could affect the players as a negotiation seems to be a distant dream as of now with different boards pointing fingers at each other.
Adding to the relief, Steven Smith will lead his side in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy as that comes under the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed in the recent past which further include Women’s 50-over World Cup.
As the standoff is taking place, earlier Cricket Australia’s Chief Executive James Sutherland shoot a warning through an electronic mail while addressing the players to agree to the commitments and if otherwise, the players won’t be able to receive the salary after June 30.
However, ACA in response termed Sutherland’s warning as a new low in Australian cricket before dispatching letters to its official members for a meeting.
On the other side, Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc was quick to react while stating it would make the point for the Ashes as the traditional series might get affected if the pending issue won’t get resolved at its earliest.
The response came after Sutherland asked players to accept the proposal at the behest which is based on players’ remuneration plans.
Taylor has further expressed his dissatisfaction as the situation is yet to find the solution which has further witnessed the sour relations between players and the board itself.
“Cricket Australia feel that the ACA aren’t negotiating at all. Cricket Australia want to change the MOU, we want to get away from what they call the ‘revenue-sharing model’, although the one we’ve offered to the players is still revenue sharing to a certain extent,” Taylor asserted.
Earlier, Peter Handscomb has made a comment by stating every player should be treated equally on the pay scale as different players in Australia have echoed his words.
“Things haven’t been going anywhere for months now. No one is worse off, women are going to be very well paid under the new model. This was before this MOU was presented,” Taylor remarked.
The players union has stated that it’s ‘incoherence and aggression’ of CA to pressurise players, on what Taylor explained all players were against the move from CA itself.
“Right from the word go, the ACA – I’m not so sure the players – the ACA have not wanted to engage at all on this deal that’s been offered. ‘It is all about status quo, or the highway,” Taylor concluded
The 52-year-old New South Wales-born Taylor wishes further for a deal to take place at the earliest while stating the players association have asked for status quo of the players.
The left-handed batsman Taylor played 113 One-day Internationals and 104 Tests for Australia.
He scored 7,525 runs in ODIs and 3,514 runs in Tests while having a wicket to his name in the longer format of the game.
Here’re the Tweets from players:
https://twitter.com/mstarc56/status/863352987325931520
Players are staying strong ?? #fairshare https://t.co/ESq5itOORm
— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) May 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/Mozzie21/status/863596596872663040
Well said @mstarc56. It will be an interesting game of cricket without any players. #fairshare https://t.co/JF12XkNUdh
— Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) May 13, 2017