Cricket Australia (CA) today announced a restructuring of the contracting system for women’s international and state cricket which will result in the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars becoming some of the best paid female athletes in the country.
CA also announced today the squad for the upcoming Women’s Ashes Series in England, as well as the 2013-14 Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars contracted players.
The CA Board has approved a restructure of the contract system with a move from a three-tier payment retainer system to a squad ranking system. The top player retainer increases substantially from $15,000 to $52,000 and the minimum retainer increases from $5,000 to $25,000.
The player tour payments also increase from $100 to $250 per day. With 85 tour days within the next year, players have the potential to earn more than $20,000 in tour payment earnings on top of their contract retainer payments.
With the restructuring of the contract system, Australia’s top female cricketers have the potential to earn approximately $70,000 – $80,000 in the next 12 months.
CA will continue to encourage players to pursue study and work commitments outside of cricket, with the retainers assisting players who are required to take time off work to tour with the national team.
Additionally, CA will provide each state and the ACT with $100,000 a year to help fund minimum standards for female cricketers contracted to play in our national competitions.
CA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Sutherland said:
“The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars devote a huge amount of time and energy into being the number one team in the world in all formats and we feel that this is a landmark step in recognising their commitment and contribution to cricket as Australia’s favourite sport.”
“The recent success of the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars has led to unprecedented media coverage and recognition, as well as playing a significant role in driving an increase in female cricket participation by 18% in the last 12 months taking us to 180,000 female participants.
“We are still working towards the day when Australia’s female cricketers will be able to earn a full-time, professional living from cricket. But the performances of our female stars justify this step and the day will come when future, full-time professional female cricketers will look back and thank those who went before them.
“It’s an exciting time for Australian cricket. Four of the last seven years have seen record crowds at cricket played in Australia, average TV audiences for cricket rate higher than any other sport and we have 950,000 participants, the highest participants of any Australian sport.
“In the past seven days we’ve signed two of the biggest sponsorships in Australian sports for our men’s home Test and ODI teams and series and research shows that more Australians are fanatical about cricket than they are fanatical about any other sport in the country.
“In the coming weeks we’ll also finalise our new broadcast rights agreement which will enable Australia cricket to further develop the sport,” Sutherland said.
The full Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad will continue to work closely with CA’s Game and Market Development team to fulfil an increased number of appearances in the community.
2013-14 AIS-Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars Contract List
CA today also advised the CA contracted women’s players for 2013-2014, for both the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars.
The Women’s National Selection Panel (WNSP) has chosen 14 players for the AIS-Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars contract list for 2013-14, who will be the first players to benefit from the restructured contract funding.
Name State Age
Alex Blackwell NSW 29
Jess Cameron VIC 23
Sarah Coyte NSW 22
Holly Ferling QLD 17
Jodie Fields QLD 28
Rachael Haynes NSW 26
Alyssa Healy NSW 23
Julie Hunter VIC 29
Jess Jonassen QLD 20
Meg Lanning VIC 21
Erin Osborne NSW 23
Ellyse Perry NSW 22
Megan Schutt SA 20
Elyse Villani VIC 23
Commenting on the contract list, WNSP Chair Julie Savage said: “The WNSP have elected to reduce the numbers of players on the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars contract list to concentrate on a core group of players we believe can continue to develop the exciting style of play the team has shown in recent ICC World Cup events.
“In terms of age and playing experience, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars are a fairly young group and, while having achieved much in the past season, are yet to reach their playing potential as individuals and collectively as a team. It will be an exciting journey over the next few seasons as the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars continue to develop. The WNSP will add players to the squad if performances warrant during the season.
2013 Women’s Ashes Squad
The WNSP has today announced a 15-player squad for the Women’s Ashes Series in England, which is scheduled for August.
Name State Age
Jodie Fields (C) QLD 28
Alex Blackwell (VC) NSW 29
Jess Cameron VIC 23
Sarah Coyte NSW 22
Sarah Elliott (Test only) VIC 31
Holly Ferling QLD 17
Rachael Haynes NSW 26
Alyssa Healy NSW 23
Julie Hunter VIC 29
Jess Jonassen QLD 20
Meg Lanning VIC 21
Erin Osborne NSW 23
Ellyse Perry NSW 22
Megan Schutt SA 20
Elyse Villani VIC 23
Note: Jemma Barsby will join the squad after the Test in a development role.
Commenting on the squad, WNSP chair Julie Savage said: “The WNSP has selected a squad of 15 to contest the Women’s Ashes Series in England in August. Sarah Elliott has been included for the Test match and will fly home at the conclusion of the Test. Jemma Barsby will join the squad at the conclusion of the Test match to gain valuable touring and training experience, with a view of accelerating her development.
“This is a very important series. Australia currently hold the number one ranking in all formats and England will be extremely motivated to change the status quo.”
2013-14 AIS-Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars Contract List
The WNSP has chosen 13 players for the AIS-Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars contract list for 2013-14.
Name State Age
Jemma Barsby QLD 17
Kristen Beams VIC 28
Nicole Bolton WA 24
Erin Burns TAS 23
Nicola Carey NSW 19
Grace Harris QLD 19
Emma Inglis VIC 24
Delissa Kimmince QLD 24
Beth Mooney QLD 19
Angela Reakes NSW 22
Molly Strano VIC 20
Kara Sutherland NSW 21
Gemma Triscari WA 23
Commenting on the contract list WNSP Chair Julie Savage said: “The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad is primarily a training squad to underpin the future depth requirements of the Australian Women’s program. The current contract list is heavily weighted with players who are spin bowlers. The WNSP anticipate that some of these players, with the aid of programs provided for them, will perform well in the domestic competition and earn elevation to the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad.”
The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars are supported by the Australian Government’s Women in Sport Media Grant program, which is designed to increase the profile of women’s sport through increased media coverage.
