It has gone long enough. It’s time for me to speak up and put an end to this stupid war of words and inaction.
You might say that I don’t know all the facts. There are too many ifs and buts. But I’ll keep it simple.
I don’t understand politics (thank heavens) or legal terms and finances even less (thank God)! But I know my cricket and no one can deny this.
Keep it simple. Among all the rigmaroles and show of bravery and selflessness, the underlining fact is: want for money, more money.
One could understand in the 1970s when cricketers were poorly paid and the World Series Cricket was born. This improved cricketers’ financial position.
Good on them. They deserved extra dollars as previously they had to hang on to their normal job and had to take leave from their bosses to tour overseas with an Australian cricket team.
It has all changed now. With the introduction of BBL and IPL, many cricketers are millionaires, some even multimillionaires.
I do realise that many Sheffield Shield players are still poorly paid. But from where can CA pay them more when an average day attendance for a Shield game is under 200 spectators?
If the Test cricketers feel sympathy for their poorly paid Shield brothers, why don’t they take a salary cut of up to 25 percent and donate it to their poorer teammates?
Many consider that the act of Australian A team to boycott the tour of South Africa was an act of selflessness.
Perhaps it is so to some extent. But mostly it was to put pressure on CA to pay all the cricketers more.
Is it an act of selflessness? Perhaps yes because it was a chance for them because they forfeited their chance to get selected in the Australian team.
But mostly it is to put pressure on CA to give every cricketer more.
To jeopardise your climb to top is partly selflessness but mostly stupidity merging on committing suicide.
And your country suffers. The Poms will be delighted that they will win the Ashes playing against Australia’s D or G or Y team.
To lie on a rail track as a train is approaching is not selflessness but suicidal. And who is the winner? Nobody!
It is time for CA and cricketers union to sit on a table and sort out their differences. It is fault on bad sides. Both have acted so far like pig-headed mules. Come on, grow up. You are not 10-month-old babies who think they get everything by putting up a tantrum.
To represent your country is the biggest honour in any field. To throw it away to get more money for you and your lesser paid team mates borders on stupidity.
Now don’t serve me with legal and financial intricacies. To me it is fault and double-fault to use a tennis term.
I have covered the problems in simple English. Sit down and talk all of you involved, and behave like adults without boring legal jargons.
To be stubborn is weakness, not strength – CA, ACA and cricketers.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Or dare I say it like the Wallabies? Investment in the NRC development pathway is the bed rock to getting stronger at the higher levels.... I couldn't handle it if our cricket started going the same way as our rugby, I mean how much can a koala bear?
jeznez
Roar Guru
No, cracking post mate. You are more than halfway to having an article there.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Whose ego? CA or the ACA.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Thanks Jamesb, Simon, Davros & Junior Coach for taking the time to read. As i hit reply I thought "this is too long and will be ignored".
ches
Guest
Yes Yes and Yes. No doubt T20 has driven this. This is actually a domino effect from from the West Indies. A team (or board not a country) where First Class & Test was worth virtually nothing. Those players looked at what they were earning compared to their overseas mates and along comes the T20 alternative. They adapted their games to that style and long form West Indies controlled board cricket has stagnated. Along comes the big bash in Australia. The reason the game is generating more money other than Aust V India or Ashes series. Most players in the Big Bash come from Australian First Class cricket but not all First class guys play Big Bash. Huge discrepancy in pay occurs. Those guys want more money and their mates are now sticking up for them. If those guys were getting as much as their first class mates who play big bash much of this problem will not exist. Coupled with the fact Australian summer scheduling and rotation policy many of the best Australian players either cannot play or partially play the big bash. Further proof T20 is a main driver of this the fact the players threaten if they cannot play for Australia they will freelance on the T20 circuit and make their own sponsorship deals endorsing hair shampoo to Indian TV. Having the T20 fall back option is what is pushing the players here. If they did not have that option, the option of being "unemployed" would not look so good and their bargaining position would be very limited if not exist at all. What are they going to do if there was no T20? This is not the first domino to fall ........
davros
Guest
mmm maybe not ..definitely ashes is there best bargaining chip cricketers have ...old saying you never have a strike if it doesnt affect anyone ...although technically this is not a strike . it seems if the india one day tour does not go ahead there could be compensation claims ...upwards of 60 million ...thats going to make things a little heated ...apparently the i9ndioan board have already been making enquiries ...and expressing their concerns ...hope the cricketers hang tough
davros
Guest
well said disco
Sydneysider
Guest
Cricket Australia is sitting on $200 million in cash reserves. Where is the money being spent? Secondly, they are luck that the Ashes was this years test series, because if it wasn't the Ashes (or the India test series) then I dare say that Cricket Australia and Chairperson Peever wouldn't care if this saga dragged on into summer.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
The amounts ACA is talking about won't change things significantly for the fringe players.
Sydneysider
Guest
I think that Cricket Australia would like Shield players to be paid a basic wage. Effectively the future of cricket will be T20. That's what this is all about.
jamesb
Guest
Ex test captains and all time greats can be looked after. However, it is a small elite group. But when a first class or fringe test player retires, most likely, they won't get the same benefits. E.g., cushy media jobs.
Big Daddy
Guest
The Sheffield shield players are the ones giving up the most with little reward from CA. Most would not have jobs and like the test players spend a lot of time away from home families etc. The current test players were in a much better situation with ca contracts an 1st opportunities at IPL and other tournaments around the world. The stance taken by the higher profile players is more for these lower tier players. Because CA is a not for profit organization the profits should be channelled into better payment and conditions for lower tier players and grass roots development.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
That's the one thing that I think CA needs to explain publicly. Assuming that what seems to be the case is true, that's not a good move from CA.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Shane Warne Ricky Ponting Mark Taylor Steve Waugh Michael Clarke How many names would you like?
The Bush
Roar Guru
Kersi, this is honestly the strangest position I've ever heard. So what if the next time round CA offers them even less, and then less and then less. Where does it end? When are they meant to actually worry about it? In a society that becomes less and less fair every day, it's refreshing to see a group stand up and for the weakest link.
The Bush
Roar Guru
The top players are willing to do that. It's CA who is trying to divide the players by offering the top players more. It's useful to know about a topic when discussing it.
The Bush
Roar Guru
But as has been mentioned Kersi, the Players have requested mediation, CA are refusing to participate in a sit down.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Kersi, I know you said both parties are at fault. I literally just wrote 740 words in rebuttal in an effort to educate you so that you can write more informed opinions on the matter in the future. Both parties are NOT at fault. This is purely CA greed. The culmination resulting in strike action was forecast as early as September last year. One sides being a bully, the other side is reacting maturely and accordingly. We wouldn't be here if CA was trying to maintain the status quo would we? Do you really think it's a coincidence that CA is refusing to enter into independent mediation? Anyone with a shred of independence that looks at this case will ultimately rule in favour of the players. Kersi, I look forward to a detailed article on WHY Cricket Australia has refused to hand over their books to the ACA. Perhaps they don't want anyone knowing where they're spending their money? Sadly, I don't expect any such article. It wouldn't really support your ideological standpoint.
jamesb
Guest
Ok, name some examples of players earning big bucks once they retire?
Junior Coach
Guest
If only it were so easy Kersi- most organisations in Australia these days are run by "management guru" types- they come in for 3-5 years , make a wholesale bunch of changes that almost always upset's the applecart (they have to make THEIR mark- its all about the manager, not the company) , then they leave for the next glorious management position- usually leaving an organisation full of unhappy , screwed over workers. Workers who've climbed the ladder from bottom to top are very rare, spiv's rule the roost these days-including in CA. Changing a perfectly good system to a perfectly crap one is what management is all about