ACB Annual Report reveals higher than expected revenue and player payment bonus

The success of Australia's record-breaking cricket team and an increase in commercial and public support of the game will see state and international players receive a $3.9 million payment bonus, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced today.

Figures from the ACB's 1999-2000 Annual Report released today reveal that Australian Cricket Revenue (ACR), the consolidated revenue of the ACB and six state associations that determines the amount of money available to pay players, reached a record $80 million. This amount, which is subject to audit clearance, is up $10 million from last year.

Under the player payment formula used by the ACB and the Australian Cricketers' Association, 20 per cent of ACR up to $60 million and 25 per cent of ACR over $60 million is allocated to the player payments pool.

During 1999-2000, the ACB provided $13.3 million to the pool and as a result of the higher than expected level of ACR, the Board will add an extra $3.9 million.

Players are not the only beneficiaries of the record revenue figure. Grass roots cricket will be supported by the distribution of $18.8 million to state associations. This is up $3.8 million from last year and is the largest amount ever distributed to the states for game development. The $18.8 million distributed to states is in addition to state player payments, which are funded by the ACB and this year reached $7.7 million.

ACB Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said the level of revenue reflected the strength of the game on and off the field.

"While the Australian team was breaking records on the field, commercial and public support of the game grew off the field," Mr Speed said.

"Key indicators of cricket's health - match attendance, sponsorship and media rights revenue - reached new levels in 1999-2000."

Mr Speed said that the level of interest in the game also reached record heights.

"An increase in television, Internet and radio audiences and record participation rates firmly established cricket as Australia's favourite team sport during the year," he said.

In terms of participation, the 1999-2000 ACB Annual Report reveals that 488,000 Australians play some type of organised cricket. In addition, more than 500,000 young Australians learn the game through the MILO Cricket programs.