Australian cricket fans have every right to feel filthy about the ongoing pay scrap, but Shane Watson says the public know unemployed players are being fair and reasonable.
The previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Cricket Australia (CA) and the players’ union expired on June 30.
CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) remain deadlocked over the issue of revenue sharing. The standoff has plunged the game into absolute uncertainty.
This month’s Australia A tour to South Africa will almost certainly be boycotted, barring significant progress in protracted pay talks before Friday.
A question mark also hangs over next month’s Test series in Bangladesh, the ensuing ODI tour of India and this summer’s Ashes.
Some 230 Australian cricketers are currently unemployed. The list includes domestic and international players; male and female.
CA and the ACA have argued the other party is is at fault for a range of issues, such as problems at grass-roots level. CA has used a proverbial carrot and stick in attempts to convince players of the need for change, but with zero success.
Several stakeholders are dismayed by the stoush. Fans are incredulous it has come to this.
Former all-rounder Watson, who sits on the ACA executive, says the public understand who is being “incredibly reasonable” in the saga.
“For fans and for cricket in general in Australia, I think it’s just a very sad moment,” Watson said.
“From my perspective and what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard, absolutely, the majority of people understand that we’re not being unfair.
“We’re not actually trying to be out there grabbing money left, right and centre that’s actually going to draw away from the game.
“Players have asked for … what’s been agreed upon for the last 19 years. We’ve never asked for any more.”
Watson reiterated calls for CA chief executive James Sutherland to enter emergency mediation. Sutherland is yet to formally enter talks and there is no indication from the governing body that will change.
“Normally if there’s an impasse in anything, in any relationship if something is not happening, you get someone in to help find the middle ground,” Watson said.
“But that’s been knocked back as well. For me I just find that incredibly sad.”
Usman Khawaja, who hasn’t played at any level since an ODI in January, added that players are desperate to get on the park.
“It’s tough … these are not the sort of things you want to deal with,” Khawaja said.
Australia A captain Khawaja will train alongside his squad in Brisbane on Monday but the prospect of the group flying out on Friday appears almost non-existent.
BrainsTrust
Guest
The only way cricket rights are going up that much is if Ten bids and puts them on Foxtel. If there is a secret plan to transfer premium cricket which is international matches not the Big Bash to Pay TV, they could get a huge increase. The Big Bash would then be the free to air component.
Christov
Guest
Ok how about a company model where administrators and players are shareholders and get paid dividends. If they perform badly then the shareholders can boot the out etc
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Oops Sorry SS that reply was for Paully M
Pope Paul VII
Guest
The top men do want to get paid less under the old agreement. "The life's tough" adage should also apply to the administrators shouldn't it?
Sydneysider
Guest
"I’m sorry life’s tough but if the players union want the women and shield cricketers to get paid more then the top men should get paid less to accommodate it." Spot on Paul. Agree totally. "channel nine has been told by their parent company to rethink bidding for the next tv right’s as televised cricket is not worth it" Cricket Australia have delayed the TV deal negotiations until 2018 because they are waiting for the government to change the media ownership laws so that Channel 10 (Fox takeover) can bid for the Big Bash and push the rights up, otherwise they are expecting $200 million less over 5 years for the TV deal: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/australian-cricket-dispute-media-rights-deal-talks-to-be-delayed/news-story/222b1e91ab3b3d0f0b18bafe4855c0f0 "Cricket Australia is almost certain to delay the negotiation of its next five-year media rights deal until next year, as sports rights experts predict the deal will net the organisation $200 million less than it initially hoped for." "But there is now a fear at the cricketing body that a quick deal could impact revenue potential." "The media law reform gridlock could affect a sale of the network. Administrator Mark Korda of KordaMentha last week said he would ask the Federal Court to delay Ten’s next creditors’ meeting until after federal parliament resumes on August 8, in the hope media reform laws would pass." That's another reason for the current stalemate between CA and the players and the idea of changing the % revenue share model. Less revenue coming in.
Paul Merritt
Guest
With the way the Australian mens team have preformed lately they should be thankful they weren't offered a pay cut, channel nine has been told by their parent company to rethink bidding for the next tv right's as televised cricket is not worth it, channel ten are broke so they wont bid and channel seven can't because they televise the tennis. Cricket Australia have offered them what is fair. The ACA are just a glorified union who are about one in all in. If a just average sheild cricketer can't survive on 40 grand a summer, tough! I'm a cabinet maker and don't make much more for a full year. I'm sorry life's tough but if the players union want the women and shield cricketers to get paid more then the top men should get paid less to accommodate it.
davros
Guest
well big Daddyo thats a great argument for them to maximise there earnings whilst they are playing and generating the actual reveue that runs C A
davros
Guest
that doesnt work because C A can spend the money any old way they like on who they like and say well there is not much profit this year ...even though we employed another 50 hangers on and payed the board 5 mill each ? Capice ?
davros
Guest
unions are the only reasons we dont push 6 year olds up chimneys anymore ...they are the reason australia is the country ,or used to be of the fair go ! I am very proud to be pro union you wont get me aplogising for being pro union ...unions in this country have been smashed by conservative govts ..to the point ...we have the lowest wage growth in decades and our economy is tanking because of it .
Bob Downe
Guest
I think the general public are over cricket and don't give two hoots as they used to. The mystique has well and truly gone with Test Cricket.
At work
Roar Rookie
There's definitely questions to be asked about scheduling each Summer. Certainly Sutherland has been in his role for too long, CA need some fresh blood running the game
Bert
Guest
CA hasn't taken any interest in the actual sport of cricket for a long time. It's all been about revenue. How else to explain closing down first class cricket for six weeks during the peak of the cricket season, leaving Test hopefuls no chance to play and show their stuff when the Tests are being played? How else to explain rushing through the Test season with such undue haste, playing the first Tests well before summer is underway and ending the Tests in January so they can squeeze in more and more One Day games and 20/20 games? Last summer, after a terrible thrashing in the Test series, CA proudly announced that it had been a highly successful season...because revenue was up. They've lost the plot and should all be sacked.
Sydneysider
Guest
"you know CA are a not for profit and they’re trying to make sure Cricket in Australia is sustainable for the long term" cricket in Australia will always be sustainable judging by the crowds to the Big Bash League. Guys prancing around like Shane Watson, dressed like he is going to the polo, doesn't help either, especially at a time when real wages growth in the Australian economy is at it's lowest point in history, people working in retail, hospitality etc... having penalty rates being cut and then you get the millionaire cricketers like Mitchell Starc, David Warner etc... posting on social media how they are now "unemployed" when in reality they live in multi million dollar homes and won't ever have to struggle like the average person on the street. The whole saga is pathetic and all this rubbish coming from the players about "we care for the future of cricket" when in reality it's all about money (as it should be). If they were honest and said "yes, we care about our own finances and thus want to maximise our earnings during our 15+ year playing career", then I would have more respect for them. Same goes for the Cricket Australia bosses (Sutherland & co). All this rubbish about "wanting what's best for cricket" is complete and utter lies.
At work
Roar Rookie
Having a go at the board isn't going to achieve anything, you know CA are a not for profit and they're trying to make sure Cricket in Australia is sustainable for the long term. It's not like they get to keep the profits the game makes. Your pro-union comments are glaring
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
Board gets money only because of cricketers, if not through attendance then by sponsorship and TV rights. If there are no cricketers where is the board?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Forget about being the no.1 white ball cricketer in the world for a few years...
Christov
Guest
Maybe instead of revenue share they should go profit share?
Rebellion
Guest
Watto, Made millions of dollars year after year for being the greatest disappointment in over a generation of Australian sport. At least James O'Connor gave the Wallabies three good years before he destroyed himself and was thrown out. This selfish, self absorbed pretender chose the DRS reviews over his teammates and countrymen.
Big Daddy
Guest
You can see what the players are trying to do although some of them aren't the sharpest tools in the shed and one thing is for sure they certainly won't be getting that sort of money in the private sector when they retire. Many years ago most international sportsmen whether it was cricket or rugby league had good jobs with breweries and liquor companies as reps. When I worked at Tooheys guys like Steve rix on and Peter toohey were working there.
E-Meter
Guest
Ha ha nice work