Players on collision course with Cricket Australia

While Australia were celebrating another series win in New Zealand, off the field the stand-off between players and administrators over pay continued to runble on.

Cricket Australia stands accused of trying to make changes to reduce the amount earned by the players, and despite attempts to resolve the dispute neither side appears in a mood to back down. The current deal ends on June 30, just before the start of the Ashes series.

"The present players have taken team performances and the value of cricket's major revenue streams to unsurpassed levels in this country," Tim May, the spokesman for the players, said. "It is disappointing that Cricket Australia seeks to reward the players' contributions by reducing their share of the game's revenues. The cricketers deserve more respect. Cricket Australia should extend the spirit of cricket ... a spirit that is based upon respect for one's opponents ... to the negotiating table.

"If the negotiations haven't finished by June 30, cricket's going to be in a lot of trouble."

If no solution has been found by the time the deal expires then the players will be out of contract with the board and free to seek commercial deals with rival organisations. That would place the board in the position of either fielding a side containing players who are backed by companies who might be in direct competition with official sponsors, or ditching them and bringing in new players willing to agree to the board's amended terms.

The conflict has also placed James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's CEO, in an invidious position. It is reported that he had reached a deal with the players, but his own board refused to endorse the compromise.