The brinkmanship battle between Cricket Australia and the players’ union over pay appears certain to extend into next week, thrusting the game into unknown territory.
The current Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expires on Friday.
There was no movement in stalled negotiations on Monday. Relations between CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) remain frosty to a point where it would be a major surprise if there is any breakthrough this week.
Most insiders all but gave up on the idea of a new deal being signed during this financial year a long time ago.
However, some held out hope of temporary measures being agreed before the June 30 deadline. That now appears unlikely.
Such a scenario would cast doubt on Australia’s participation in future series, starting with next month’s Australia A tour but including this summer’s Ashes.
Talks won’t resume until Wednesday at the earliest – and it is uncertain if the two parties will meet then.
Some domestic and international players will assemble in Sydney on Tuesday for the ACA’s annual charity golf day, which raises funds for past players who have fallen on hard times.
There will obviously be informal chat on the greens about the genuine prospect of unemployment.
A more formal meeting between the ACA executive, which features Aaron Finch and Moises Henriques, and ACA management is likely to follow later in the week should the stalemate remain.
The union has already hatched contingency plans, including financial assistance for some domestic players and an entity that will source commercial sponsors for stars.
Both CA and the ACA claim the ball is in the opposition’s court and they are waiting. Both continue to insist they are committed to a deal being done by Friday.
CA wants ACA to come to the negotiation table. The governing body submitted a rejigged offer to players last Friday; it was rejected later that day but is yet to be discussed in a formal setting.
The ACA wants CA boss James Sutherland to come to the negotiation table. The union asked for chief executive mediation talks last Friday; it’s a request that CA continues to ignore.
Sutherland, with the exception of a fiery email that warned players of the threat of unemployment, has played virtually no part in discussions.
Sutherland’s right-hand man Kevin Roberts has instead headed the negotiation team.
“Meetings between CA and the ACA over the last fortnight have been encouraging,” Roberts wrote to ACA boss Alistair Nicholson last Friday.
Nicholson told players that the leaked email “does not accurately reflect how far apart the parties remain with a week to go”.
Barry
Guest
Obvious you do not understand the situation.
Barry
Guest
Exactly, what does CA do with their 55%?
Barry
Guest
Risked your life lol -nominate you for a bravery award.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Paul, can you link me to articles ofrinfo where you can show me where the players are being greedy? I am not taking the P out of you, I am genuinely interested in why you have come to the opinion that the players are being greedy and would like to read that info.
Paul
Guest
Dear Mr Warner and Starc - there is one thing that ordinary cricket fans, struggling to make ends meet, will never tolerate. GREED! You will understand the next time you walk out onto an Aussie cricket ground.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Of course people had died, they have also died playing many other sports. Those are very tragic events and I feel for those families of the bereaved. If you are going to come on here and suggest the professional players should play for the love of the game because you "risked your life" playing park cricket then that is absurd. Maybe I should get all the tradies I get to come to my house to do it for free because I tried to fix the tap once. Maybe I should get to see all movies for free because I helped some nieces and nephews to make a home movie. If you guys dislike players because they can earn money for playing then that is your prerogative but don't suggest someone work for free just because you think they should.
Jacko
Guest
People have died playing cricket Rellum. You should be aware of that...just go do some reading before you insult people, or try to insult people
Rellum
Roar Guru
:), risked your life huh, aren't you an entitled one. Playing the game in Afghanistan or Pakistan or Bangladesh could be considered life threatening, could be. Getting the odd bruise does not count. Given your first comment the entire pay dispute is news to you. Go do some reading before you start insulting people, or trying to insult people.
Michaelj
Guest
PS: If they are holding out to help the grass roots game that is news to me.
Michaelj
Guest
I risked my life playing suburban cricket- and paid a fee for the privilege to play. No, I don't work for the cricket establishment.Grow up.
amreeka
Guest
bcci is handling filthy rich superstars without any problem and ur board cant handle minnows...... shame..
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am starting to wonder if CA employees are coming on here making this sort of comment. One more time, the players have turned down offers from CA that would have given them "more money" in this stand off, the players given money to help out grassroots cricket. They are all standing firm so that a revenue sharing model of some kind can be negotiated so they are stake holders in the game and so that domestic, Women's and grassroots are looked after. CA has been terrible in the way they have gone about this and the players are right to stand up to them.
Michaelj
Guest
It's unbelievable. They've just lost a series in India and came nowhere in England, and demand more money for failure.