David Warner was the best paid Australian in the Big Bash last seasonCredit:Getty
The negotiations,which have been largely free of the acrimony that characterised the 2017 MoU war,are taking place in the shadow of new Twenty20 leagues that clash with the BBL,offering players as much as $500,000 for half as many matches.
Cricket Australia’s male central contract list is likely to be held to CPI,as more money is invested in extending the men’s list from 20 to 24,while the women’s contract list is likely to rise from 15 to 18.
Last-minute haggling has revolved around the number of state and rookie contracts on offer,amid fears that promising talents on the fringes of those lists may be lost to the football codes if fewer places are available.
Men’s captain Pat Cummins is currently the highest-paid cricketer in Australia with a contract worth about $2 million, while the minimum men’s contract is currently $316,000.
Meg Lanning and her Australian teammates are set for substantial pay rise.Credit:Getty Images
Cummins’ central contract is worth a similar amount to that of Michael Clarke when he was captain,as far back as 2015. There is a danger that this flat trajectory may increase the risk of top players choosing T20 franchise paths instead of CA contracts.
BBL deals for the likes of Glenn Maxwell,Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis could rise to around $400,000 apiece,roughly the amount David Warner was paid to play six games for the Sydney Thunder. Under a similar arrangement,Steve Smith was paid about $250,000 to play five games for the Sixers.