RSA: No Need For South Africa's Top Cricketers To Go Cap In Hand To Sponsors (2 Jun 1996)

2 June 1996

No need for SA`s top cricketers to go cap in hand to sponsors.

By Luke Alfred

Once it was enough to know the difference between a schemer and a schooner, a straight bat and a straight, but sports journalism has now moved into other, greener territory.

A case in point is the UCBSA`s implicit demand that when attending UCB press conferences hacks should now be armed not with a notebook and pen but with a calculator and share pages - an admission that cricket has transformed itself remarkably over the past few years from sport into big business.

At a UCB press conference on Thursday 30th May it was announced that from June category A listed players would be earning R13 200 (1940 UK pounds) a month, category B players R11 550 (UKP 1700) and category C players R10 000 (UKP 1470) per month. The nine category A players are Hansie Cronje, Craig Matthews, Dave Richardson, Jonty Rhodes, Fanie de Villiers, Allan Donald, Brian McMillan, Daryll Cullinan and Gary Kirsten. The category B listed players are Andrew Hudson and Shaun Pollock. and Category C players Pat Symcox, Paul Adams and Jacques Kallis.

Interestingly, Fanie de Villiers occupies the top category, indicating after an injury-dominated 1995/6 that the powers that be still have faith in him. Andrew Hudson`s propensity to flick hopefully off outside the offstump early on in his innings means he is worth R1650 (UKP 243) less than his opening partner, Gary Kirsten.

Despite being worth a salary of slightly less, Adams will still be able to expand his growing CD collection.

There are no contracts for Brett Schultz, Clive Eksteen, Richard Snell or Steven Jack, an indication perhaps that regular international cricket is deemed beyond them.

Then again, too much can be read into those 14 players who are contracted to the board. Injuries and loss of form do happen and there is always the possibility that one may be woken at two in the morning with the gravely voice of Peter Pollock beaming at you out of the night. Along with this basic salary, players will be eligible for a host of generous incentives, Without going into all the details the side will be eligible for R250 000 (UKP 36 800) for the first three tests they win during the forthcoming season and for R300 000 (UKP 44 120) for a series win thereafter.

There are equally good bonuses for the Triangular and one-day series against India and Australia in India, India and Zimbabwe in South Africa, as well as the seven one-day internationals against Mark Taylor`s visiting Australians at the end of the 1996/7 season.

At the end of what promises to be a long (but let`s face it, rewarding) season, a category A listed player who plays in all the games stands to earn just short of R600 000 (UKP 88 240) with out endorsements. Not bad for a season`s work really.

On the forthcoming tours front, hectic does not even begin to describe the schedule. In July the South Africa `A` side tour England; the following month the under-15 side go to the World Cup in England. In mid-October the full national side tour India, and immediately thereafter host an incoming tour by India across December and into February next year. The Australians round off the season with a three-test, seven one-day international series in February, March and April.

Of note in the forthcoming seasons is a tour of England by the South African women`s cricket team in the August next year and the woman`s world cup in India in 1997/8.

Moves are also being made to accommodate Sri Lanka for a triangular home series with Pakistan in March/April 1997/8. The world one-day champions have also requested two tests, although only one might be possible.

NB: All Rand/Sterling conversions are at approximately R6.8 to the Pound.

Source :: Sunday Independent