dmc333
10th June 2009, 22:15
AUSTRALIA'S best cricketers will receive match payments even when they don't play and will get a bonus according to how much the public likes them under a new deal worked out between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association.
The two groups announced their new memorandum of understanding yesterday, revealing a pay rise for all players and some nervousness about the global financial crisis.
The top-ranked player, Ricky Ponting, will earn more than $1.5million next year and the person CA chooses to replace Andrew Symonds will join the list of 25 contracted players on the bottom rung guaranteed a minimum of $190,000 - plus match payments in 2009-10. That base figure rises by $20,000 in 2010-11.
Wives and girlfriends have been upgraded from economy flights to premium economy when attending overseas visitor periods and for the first time children's flights will be paid for, but the money now comes from the player payment pool and not the petty cash tin of the game's bosses.
The player payment pool has increased by 13.1 per cent over last year because of the game's robust health, but fears for its future in an uncertain global market has cut the new memorandum of understanding period from the usual four years to two.
CA has also inserted a clause which allows it to vary the deal by up to $6m.
While the ACA managed to get CA to increase the player payment pool from 25 to 26 per cent, it has had to pick up the bill for the families and injury benefits as a trade-off.
The payment pool is $96.2m over two years, which is shared between national (25 contracts) and state players (96 to 120 contracts) and also used for welfare and rookie payments.
A group of 25 is offered a central contract under a ranking system that favours those who play all three forms and weighs Tests above the shorter games.
Six of the top-ranked Test and short-form players will be offered a fixed contract for the first time, which guarantees match payments even if the cricketer does not play.
ACA chief executive Paul Marsh said the fixed contracts recognised that players would be forced to rest more often because of the crowded schedule and should not be penalised for doing so.
"It's in recognition of the fact that, with the workload coming up over the next 12 months, in particular players will be forced to rest and we've started to see that over the past few months," he said. Match payments increase slightly from last year. Players will receive $13,250 (up from $13,000) per Test, $5300 (up from $5200) per one-day international and $3975 (up from $3900) per Twenty20 match.
Match payments will increase by a similar amount in the second year of the agreement.
For the first time, the players will receive an additional marketing payment at the end of the year from a separate pool of about $3m.
In the past, this has been an element of the total player payment pool but under the new agreement, the more popular and active faces in cricket will receive more money.
A player's marketability will be established under a ranking system by an independent body which will judge their recognition and their popularity.
The less somebody is liked the lower their ranking and the lower their earnings. On top of this, players will receive money for their appearances. National advertising campaigns will get top dollar and sponsor functions less.
"Players will be recognised for their marketing appearances, what they do and when they do them and we see that as being a significant win for both parties," Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland said.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25612390-2722,00.html
I've never wanted to start a lame internet campaign against someone more than now.
The two groups announced their new memorandum of understanding yesterday, revealing a pay rise for all players and some nervousness about the global financial crisis.
The top-ranked player, Ricky Ponting, will earn more than $1.5million next year and the person CA chooses to replace Andrew Symonds will join the list of 25 contracted players on the bottom rung guaranteed a minimum of $190,000 - plus match payments in 2009-10. That base figure rises by $20,000 in 2010-11.
Wives and girlfriends have been upgraded from economy flights to premium economy when attending overseas visitor periods and for the first time children's flights will be paid for, but the money now comes from the player payment pool and not the petty cash tin of the game's bosses.
The player payment pool has increased by 13.1 per cent over last year because of the game's robust health, but fears for its future in an uncertain global market has cut the new memorandum of understanding period from the usual four years to two.
CA has also inserted a clause which allows it to vary the deal by up to $6m.
While the ACA managed to get CA to increase the player payment pool from 25 to 26 per cent, it has had to pick up the bill for the families and injury benefits as a trade-off.
The payment pool is $96.2m over two years, which is shared between national (25 contracts) and state players (96 to 120 contracts) and also used for welfare and rookie payments.
A group of 25 is offered a central contract under a ranking system that favours those who play all three forms and weighs Tests above the shorter games.
Six of the top-ranked Test and short-form players will be offered a fixed contract for the first time, which guarantees match payments even if the cricketer does not play.
ACA chief executive Paul Marsh said the fixed contracts recognised that players would be forced to rest more often because of the crowded schedule and should not be penalised for doing so.
"It's in recognition of the fact that, with the workload coming up over the next 12 months, in particular players will be forced to rest and we've started to see that over the past few months," he said. Match payments increase slightly from last year. Players will receive $13,250 (up from $13,000) per Test, $5300 (up from $5200) per one-day international and $3975 (up from $3900) per Twenty20 match.
Match payments will increase by a similar amount in the second year of the agreement.
For the first time, the players will receive an additional marketing payment at the end of the year from a separate pool of about $3m.
In the past, this has been an element of the total player payment pool but under the new agreement, the more popular and active faces in cricket will receive more money.
A player's marketability will be established under a ranking system by an independent body which will judge their recognition and their popularity.
The less somebody is liked the lower their ranking and the lower their earnings. On top of this, players will receive money for their appearances. National advertising campaigns will get top dollar and sponsor functions less.
"Players will be recognised for their marketing appearances, what they do and when they do them and we see that as being a significant win for both parties," Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland said.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25612390-2722,00.html
I've never wanted to start a lame internet campaign against someone more than now.