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Battleground: Cricketers questioned over grassroots initiative
Australia's top cricketers have proposed a $600 million grassroots seed fund but Cricket Australia has questioned where the money will be derived in the latest pay dispute battleground.
Jon Pierik is a sports writer with The Age, focusing primarily on AFL football, cricket and basketball. He has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.
Australia's top cricketers have proposed a $600 million grassroots seed fund but Cricket Australia has questioned where the money will be derived in the latest pay dispute battleground.
Former Australian batsman Simon Katich has called for an independent review of Cricket Australia's finances.
While one young multi-sport star will soon have a major call to make, another who had been in the same situation is hoping for a strong finish to his football season.
A radical plan by former Australian cricket coach John Buchanan to overhaul the sport, including scrapping the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year's Test in Sydney, has been met with resistance.
Federal sports minister Greg Hunt might intervene to resolve cricket's pay stoush.
AFL superstar Patrick Dangerfield says the threat of players striking is greater in cricket than football as both sports continue to broker new pay deals.
As tensions escalate, Cricket Australia has outlined why it believes the players' push to retain a payment model adopted for two decades is outdated, breeds "mistrust" and even "damages" the sport.
EON sports, the digital 24-7 sports radio network, has been forced to abandon local programming due to cost issues.
While the fight between Australia's top cricketers and their governing body over pay continues, one Australian coach could enjoy a major payday.
Cricket Australia's bid for concussion substitutes to be permanently introduced has taken an important step with the world game's governing body agreeing to relax its archaic rules in a two-year trial.
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