There might be no positive signs as of now on a new Memorandum of Understanding but Australia skipper Steve Smith, while showing the unflinching attitude of his and other players, has reiterated his support for the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) and their commitment to retaining the 20-year old revenue-share model of player payments.
The revenue-sharing model has helped Australia’s cricketers to be among the best paid in the world but Cricket Australia is trying its best to abolish the two-decade-old model for a new model by claiming that the existing model no longer fits commercial realities and is robbing the grass-roots of vital funding. Under the old model which expired on June 30, leaving more than 200 Australian players unemployed, Australian and international players were allocated about 25 per cent of revenues which are then dispersed among international and domestic players. However, CA wanted to introduce a new model under which only male international players would have the chance to share in any surplus revenue, while other domestic male players and women at both domestic and international level would have to settle for fixed amounts which would not fluctuate according to the game’s income.
But ACA rejected the proposal saying that it disrespects the value of domestic cricketers and the role they play in Australian cricket. The CA then offered a greater share of international surpluses, included domestic players in its sharing arrangement and opted to increase annual pay rises to state players but the players’ union was quick to reject it.
And with neither of two parties willing to bow down, no progress has been made so far. The players are firmly behind the ACA and recently boycotted the Australia A’s tour of South Africa and now Smith has also reiterated his support for the players’ association.
The Australia skipper took to Instagram to reaffirm that neither the players nor the ACA would compromise their push to maintain the revenue-share model and lent his support for the domestic cricketers.
“I’ll say what we as players have been saying for some time now: we are not giving up the revenue sharing model for all players,” Smith wrote. “But, through the ACA we are willing to make important changes to modernise the existing model for the good of the game. We are and have always been willing to make those changes.”
“Changes for how the model can be adapted for the even greater benefit of grass roots cricket, which is after all where we all started. We are determined to keep revenue sharing for all because we must take care of domestic players in Australia. As leaders that’s what David (Warner), Meg (Lanning), Alex (Blackwell) and I have been fighting for: a fair share for state players who are also partners in cricket,” he added.
“I know from my career that when I was dropped in 2011 if I didn’t have a strong domestic competition to go back to, I certainly wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in today. “State players need to be taken care of financially so the domestic competition will always be strong which in turn keeps us strong at the International level,” said the Aussie skipper.
Also as Women’s cricket gets bigger and bigger in Australia women players must also be able to share in what they will be earning. They must have the same chances and incentives to grow the game as the men have had since revenue sharing started. And I know I speak for all of the men that we want women cricketers in the one deal with the men as well. “It’s time to get a deal done. “It should be and can be an exciting time for the game,” he added.