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Steve Smith backs revenue sharing model, says it keeps domestic cricket strong
The Australian captain took to Instagram to speak on the ongoing tussle between the board and the players’ association and asserted that a strong domestic set-up was pivotal to the national team’s success.
Australia captain Steve Smith on Saturday took to social media to state that the players are ready to make a few changes for the betterment of the game but will not be giving up on the revenue sharing model, which has been a cause of tussle between the board and the Australian Cricketers Association for quite some time now.
According to a report on Sydney Morning Herald, domestic cricketers receive around $199,000 on an average with the amount having increased more than 53 per cent in the last five years.
“I’ll say what we as players have been saying for some time now: we are not giving up the revenue sharing model for all players. But, through the ACA we are willing to make important changes to modernise the existing model for the good of the game,” Smith wrote in a post on Instagram.
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The Australia ‘A’ side had already boycotted their tour to South Africa owing to the ongoing tussle, which has left 230 players without contracts since the end of June. Australia have a Test tour to Bangladesh next month and are due to play an ODI series against India in September away from home.
Besides that, the Ashes start in November and if the pay dispute isn’t settled by then, fears are that all three tours might get ruined.
“Changes for how the model can be adapted for the even greater benefit of grassroots cricket, which is after all where we all started. We are determined to keep revenue sharing for all because we must take care of domestic players in Australia,” he said.
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He also added that a strong domestic system had helped him to make a strong comeback to the national side.
“I know from my career that when I was dropped in 2011 if I didn’t have a strong domestic competition to go back to, I certainly wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in today. State players need to be taken care of financially so the domestic competition will always be strong, which in turn keeps us strong at the International level,” he added.
After being recalled in 2013, Smith rose through the ranks in a remarkable fashion before being appointed captain in 2015.
He also spoke in favour of women’s cricket stating that the female cricketers should also earn a fair share of what they have been earning.
According to reports, this is the first time that Australia’s female cricketers are being included in the same pay deal.
“Also as women’s cricket gets bigger and bigger in Australia women players must also be able to share in what they will be earning.They must have the same chances and incentives to grow the game as the men have had since revenue sharing started.
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“And I know I speak for all of the men that we want women cricketers in the one deal with the men as well,” Smith wrote.
(With inputs from AFP)
