Australian Women Cricketers Could Earn Over A$1 Million Per Year Under New Pay Deal
Cricket Australia (CA) announced on Monday that top women cricketers in Australia could earn more than A$1 million ($666,600) per year under a new pay deal. The increase in earnings would come from both the new deal and cash earned through playing in India’s Women’s Premier League and The Hundred in England.
The five-year deal includes a funding increase of 66% for female cricketers, with players holding top-tier contracts and participating in the Women’s Big Bash League now able to earn A$800,000 annually. This is a significant boost from previous years and highlights the growing recognition and investment in women’s cricket.
“I am particularly pleased this (deal) represents another major step forward in the rise of women’s cricket,” CA chief executive Nick Hockley said in a news release.
“Cricket now clearly offers the best earning opportunities of any team sport for elite female sportspeople.”
Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) have agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding that includes significant increases in contracts and retainers for both men and women players. The deal also acknowledges the impact of Twenty20 tournaments on the sport’s financial landscape.
Under the agreement, the minimum and average CA contracts for women will increase by 25%, with the contracts and retainers guaranteed while players are on parental leave. Additional payments will also be provided to compensate for lost match fees. The deal also allows top female players to earn over A$1 million per year with the inclusion of income from the Women’s Premier League and The Hundred.
For male players, the number of central contracts has increased from up to 20 to up to 24 annually, reflecting the number of players required for international matches across all formats. The payment pool for Australia’s Big Bash League has also increased from A$2m to A$3m.
This new deal represents a significant investment in Australian cricket and highlights the sport’s growing popularity and recognition worldwide.
