Thankfully the summer of cricket has been saved, but for Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland and his Australian Cricket Association counterpart Alastair Nicholson, their futures in sporting administration have been severely scarred.
It’s inconceivable it’s taken ten months to complete a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) when for the last 20 years there’s been close cooperation between the two bodies.
As a result 230 Australian men and women international and first class cricketers haven’t been paid for over four weeks and were told in no uncertain terms the longer this rubbish continued, no lost income would be paid.
The players retaliated by calling off the important Australia A tour of South Africa. That in itself was an embarrassment to Australia’s standing in world cricket. Also in jeopardy were tours to Bangladesh and India, and the Ashes tour and Big Bash League – the biggest money spinners of all – no certainty.
What an unholy mess set up by two pig-headed negotiators, and it all started with Sutherland wanting to can the MoU to make all the cricketers employees.
The one thing sporting administrators never do is penalise their greatest assets, which are the cricketers – without them there’s obviously no sport. What possessed a seasoned and well-liked person like Sutherland to tread that path is mind-blowing. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
It hasn’t surfaced yet, but it’s been Australian captain Steve Smith’s communication skills that broke the deadlock. So it’s now fixed, with both sides eventually giving some ground that should have been conceded at least eight months ago.
The cricketers will receive half a billion dollars all up – that translates to 30 per cent of all revenue, up from 26 per cent – and the new MoU will last for five years.
The top men will receive around $1.5 million and the women $200,000, which is a massive increase but still light on to what the women deserve.
What the hell, let’s not niggle over semantics, at last there’s peace. But if James Sutherland or Alastair Nicholson are having any thoughts of applying for another job outside their current employment, it wouldn’t be a shrewd move. Their negative involvement over the last ten months won’t be forgotten in a hurry – if ever.
Rob
Guest
Yes they may might get paid more but who pays them? You and me through taxes i suppose. I'm sure some deserve every cent to save a life or risk their own on a regular basis. Less important than playing a game well I suppose. I'm also sure not many will earn $1.5 million plus a year. Personally a Million a year for the top players capped with a 100 minimum for state players would be fair. They can earn as much as they like playing in the IPL or other comps if they wish. I'm sure the sponsorship dollars from the corporate world is also available. Seriously watching Shane Watson in a suit with a scarf around his neck claiming a cut of the profit the governing body makes? Get a grip Shane. Imagine a traffic cop saying he wants a cut of the tickets he writes or a Doctor claiming extra dollars for a patient that doesn't die on his watch. Money is great but not everything that matters in life. Playing cricket for your country is a pretty good life to have lived in my opinion.
Campbell
Guest
There is no guarantee that future broadcast or media rights deals can be completed. Sutherland only entered the negotiation in the last month. The Qantas CEO doesn't manage industrial matters from start to finish. The deal has been completed 4 weeks late and both parties can live with it. Grass roots cricket investment remains the unanswered question and how it can be funded for upgrading of facilities for future generations.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
"Imagine if Doctors, nurses, police armed forces all said I’m not accepting your deal" Then they might get paid more.
Peter
Roar Rookie
I don't think a board member be doing negotiations? I thought it was Kevin Roberts.
Larry1950
Guest
Big win for the players here, given the UBS analyst's recommendation last April that channel 9 is paying about $40m overs for their coverage rights at $100m a season. UBS reckoned that the ch9 deal was a dud with long term sponsors of cricket cutting back or walking away entirely with the network likely to take a big hit in the next few years. Might be rosie ratings for the ashes series, but not much else to excite fans. Windies are unwatchable, India are unlikeable, SAF want to play big series at home at the same time our season peaks interest, Pakistan are nomads & the Kiwi's don't have drawing power. Add to that, Milennials don't have the concentration span to watch anything longer than a T20 game & the future is murky. You can only put so many pools around cricket stadiums, what's the next gimmick? What's 30% of nothing?
AGordon
Guest
David, This is yet another rubbish story. You've been red hot at this for years. You create a sensational headline then your story goes off at complete tangents. The headline is " Ending the cricket war is just the beginning for Sutherland and Nicholson". For a start, this was not a "war", that's just rubbish journalism at its best. This was a negotiation about terms and conditions for Australian male and female cricketers, just in case you weren't aware? "It's inconceivable it's taken 10 months to complete an MoU when, for the past 20 years, there's been close co-operation between the two bodies". I guess you've had zero involvement in pay negotiations or bother to pay any attention to the news. There have been MoU negotiations in other industries in Australia that have dragged on for at least 3 YEARS and still have not been resolved. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-19/bom-are-going-on-strike-for-the-next-three-weeks/8725062 In any event, which mob dragged it out - CA!!!! They though the cricketers would cave in and they were clear wrong. How can you apportion any blame about this fiasco to ACA when Sutherland didn't bother to get fully involved till after 31 July? I thought it was a journalists job to suss out things like that? I'm also wondering about the "close co-operation" you refer to. I seem to recall the last MoU discussions were almost as acrimonious as these, though the CA caved more quickly then. Hope you continue to get paid well, I'll simply stop reading
Todd Shand
Guest
Cricket Australia got outmaneuvered by the Piayers. Simples.
Rob
Guest
That's right Rellum. Jameswm it's a very sad world when you consider what some sports people earn compared to the poverty of the masses. In the Neymar case it's a bidding example. The cricket players are a collective of elite players. Personally cricket shouldn't stop because of the elite players desire to line their already fat pockets. Neymar is not stopping a competition from happening until he gets what he wants. Imagine if Doctors, nurses, police armed forces all said I'm not accepting your deal. I'm disgusted by bankers claiming million dollar pay packets while screwing everyone else. What did players get 20 years ago? At the end of the day it's the supporter who pays.
Rellum
Roar Guru
There seems to be a strong anti player sentiment in those who say the players just wanting money who seem to have their position based on their opinion that the Test team is poor, so they should get much less because they aren't very good. When the first MOU was signed we didn't hear much about it, because the team was as good as we have ever had, probably the best we have ever had.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Hey Rob, have you kept up with Neymar's transfer to PSG? If you think what the cricketers get is too much, what about Neymar Jnr? You do realise it all comes to what the market says they're worth, don't you? Who are you to decide what is enough?
Rob
Guest
I think the cricketers have held the game to ransom. $1.5 million to hit or bowl a cricket ball is obscene. Do they pay for the balls, the groundsman, the travel costs to tour around? Do they realise the privilege of the position? What does the leader of the country get paid..I don't begrudge them a good living. But holding the game to ransom is Australian
The Fatman
Guest
They should Make Alistair Nicholson CEO of Cricket Australia.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Steve Smith sorted it? I don't think the resolution will hurt Nicholson's future job prospects at all.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I thought Sutherland only came in for the last month or so with Peever doing the negotiations before this.
The Fatman
Guest
Cheers fp11. We appreciate your support. It has been very important. Hopefully we can make you proud this summer.
fp11
Guest
Good Luck Fatman! Players deserve this deal. I was always with them.
The Fatman
Guest
I think because the cricketers won; there will be very little animosity and we will get on with the job of playing cricket and entertaining. We got what we wanted; now it is time to perform on the field. There is no real negativity to Cricket Australia from the players Now based on the MOU It is GAME ON. Again, to all those people who supported us. A big thank you. Your courage will never be forgotten.