Australia's leading female cricketers in line for major pay increase
Friday 8 April 2016 09:08, UK
Australia's leading female cricketers have been handed a significant pay rise after a wide-ranging consultation process.
Members of the Southern Stars, who recently finished as runners-up at the World Twenty20 in India, will be in a position to earn more than AUS$100,000 (£53,500) per year.
Cricket Australia has confirmed the salary increases as part of a total commitment of $4.23m (£2.25m) to the women's game, in itself a rise of almost 100 per cent.
Maximum retainers for international players rise from $49,000 (£26,150) to $65,000 (£34,700) and there are also increases to retainers for players taking part in the Big Bash League.
Salaries will rise for the best domestic players and Cricket Australia say there will also be improvements to travel and accommodation benefits among other things.
"Cricket is a sport for all Australians and Cricket Australia will continue to invest heavily in the women's game in the coming years," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said.
"We are determined to make cricket the sport of choice for women in Australia.
"We have worked constructively with the Australian Cricketers' Association to reach this point and will continue to do so in our ongoing efforts to improve wages and workplace conditions for all elite female cricketers.
"The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have achieved great success on the world stage, including making it through to the recent final of the ICC World T20 in India, and are great role models for the next generation of Australia's aspiring female cricketers.
"The Women's Big Bash League has created a revolution with outstanding ratings that make it the most popular women's team sport in the country.
"Of the more than 1.2 million people of all ages currently playing cricket in Australia almost a quarter of them are women and girls. That number continues to grow rapidly and we will continue to support females playing the game from backyard to baggy green."
Australia have also announced a list of 16 centrally contracted players for 2016-17: Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Sarah Coyte, Rene Farrell, Holly Ferling, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt and Elyse Villani.
