Majority can now earn over $100,000 after 66% increase
Extra $53m handed out to women’s game; men’s BBL salary cap rises
The majority of women’s cricketers on minimum contracts will earn more than $100,000 a year after Cricket Australia and the players’ union announced a landmark $634m pay deal on Monday.
CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association on Monday revealed details of a new five-year memorandum of understanding that will see professional women players share $133m – an increase from $80m in the previous agreement – and benefit from a 66% increase in payments.
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Under the new deal, minimum and average CA women’s contracts will increase by 25%, while the number of contracts will increase from 15 to 18. Domestic players who do not play for Australia, who play both WNCL (50 over) and WBBL (T20) formats, can earn on average $151,019 annually, inclusive of match fees.
This makes them on average the highest-paid female players of team sports in Australia, with its nearest competitor being Super Netball where the minimum salary is $43,000 with no additional match payments. The AFLW minimum wage sits at close to $40,000, while NRLW is $30,000 and A-League Women’s is $25,000.
The WBBL salary cap will also increase to $732,000 per year in a bid to keep pace with the women’s Hundred in England, India’s WPL and other franchise leagues.
Enhancing Pay and Opportunities in Australian Cricket
“Cricket now clearly offers the best earning opportunities of any team sport for elite female sportspeople,” said CA CEO Nick Hockley, highlighting the significant strides made in women’s cricket. The recent MOU marks a major advancement, with notable increases in remuneration for the world champion Australian women’s team and the WBBL, who serve as role models driving female participation.
Centrally contracted Australian male players will see a 7.5% pay rise, averaging $951,000 before match payments, while the squad expands to 24 players. Meanwhile, the men’s BBL salary cap will increase from $2 million to $3 million, allowing top earners to make up to $420,000. This change aims to attract and retain elite talent, reflecting CA’s commitment to making the competition a priority. The league will also reduce the number of games from 14 to 10 for the 2024-25 season.
Hockley emphasized the necessity of maintaining the BBL’s competitiveness within a shifting global cricket landscape. This agreement is projected to keep the BBL central to the Australian summer experience. Overall, these adjustments translate to a 26% pay rise for players across the sport, marking the first agreement reached between Hockley and ACA counterpart Todd Greenberg.
“There is enormous capacity for growth in both the women’s game and the BBL, which we believe have significant untapped potential,” Greenberg noted. “Our men and women will benefit from substantial investment into the BBL and WBBL, ensuring that we attract the best players.”