Smith insists revenue sharing must stay

Australia's captain Steven Smith insists that the players will not back down from their demand to retain the fixed revenue percentage share they have enjoyed for two decades.

In his strongest message yet in the pay war between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA), Smith declared that the leaders of the men's and women's national teams - himself, David Warner, Meg Lanning and Alex Blackwell - were unanimous in fighting for a fair share for all players, directly linked to the game's overall financial fortunes.

Some have questioned Smith's relative lack of involvement in the public debate over MoU talks, which have now extended more than a week beyond the June 30 expiry of the previous deal, leaving more than 230 players unemployed. However, his words on Sunday could not be more unequivocal in pressing for CA to retreat from its attempt to breakup revenue sharing.

Echoing the ACA's own position, Smith said the players were prepared to be flexible about the details of the deal, including which revenue streams are included in the model and also reducing the percentage. The association's pay proposal suggested players would accept 22.5% rather than the 2012 agreement's share of between 24.5% and 27% of Australian Cricket Revenue depending on the performance of the national team.

"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," Smith wrote on Instagram. "But, through the ACA we are willing to make important changes to modernise the existing model for the good of the game. We are and have always been willing to make those changes.

"Changes for how the model can be adapted for the even greater benefit of grass roots 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. As leaders that's what David [Warner], Meg [Lanning], Alex [Blackwell] and I have been fighting for: a fair share for state players who are also partners in cricket."

Smith reflected on his own career, pointing out that when he was dropped from the Australian side in 2011, it was the strength of the Sheffield Shield competition that enabled him to evolve his game and return two years later as a much improved player. Recalled in 2013, Smith quickly asserted himself as one of the game's outstanding batsmen, and was formally appointed captain in 2015.

"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," he wrote. "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.

"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.

"And I know I speak for all of the men that we want women cricketers in the one deal with the men as well. It's time to get a deal done. It should be and can be an exciting time for the game."

Talks between CA and the ACA are continuing, though neither party has yet shown any sign of compromising on the fundamental difference between their respective positions on revenue sharing.