Beaten Aussies win pay rises

2005-06-21 15:29

Melbourne, Australia - Australia's professional cricketers have brokered a deal for annual pay rises and increased fees over the next four years despite a disastrous start to the Ashes tour of England.

Under the agreement signed on Tuesday by Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association, 25 players on elite national contracts will have their annual retainers increased by 5.78 percent per annum until 2009.

The retainers of more than 100 other players who have contracts with any of the six state associations will grow at an annual rate of 5.53 per cent over the same time.

The minimum retainer for the top 25 players increases from $108 000, - excluding match payments, tour fees and endorsements - this season to $112 000 in 2005-2006.

The retainers are based on a sliding scale depending on seniority.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the pay deal will allow the game to reward Australia's international and domestic players with increased payments, "balanced with the ability to continue investing heavily in the game at grassroots level."

Cricketers' Association chief executive Tim May said the new agreement acknowledged the players' contribution to the success of Australian cricket "both off and on the field."

- AP