No MoU but progress made in CA pay talks

Cricket365
July 15, 2017

After indications on Friday that both parties had returned to the negotiating table the Australian Cricketer’s Association is hopeful a Memorandum of Understanding with Cricket Australia will soon be completed.

On Friday CA encouraged the ACA to do what was in the best interests of the game as a whole.

It is understood that Cricket Australia are willing to retain revenue sharing with the players but only as a percentage of surplus revenue, with a broadened definition of what that revenue constitutes, rather than a slice of gross revenue.

The ACA and CA have been involved in discussions since Friday.

The ACA confirmed that agreement has not been reached for a new MOU but they were pleased with the more hands on approach taken by CA CEO James Sutherland.

ALSO READ: Hope for pay dispute resolution as talks progress

ACA CEO Alistair Nicholson said urgency in negotiations was required by CA, given the players have now been unemployed for 2 weeks.

“The increased involvement of CA CEO James Sutherland has been pleasing,” Nicholson said.

“A better understanding has been established on both parties’ positions.”

The ACA will continue to communicate with players and relevant stakeholders over coming days.

CA was forced to cancel the Australia A tour to South Africa which was intended to be used as a trial for an extra seam bowling slot on the Test tour to Bangladesh that is slated to take place next month.

ESPN Cricinfo quote Australia captain Steve Smith as saying: “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.”