Steve Smith returns but with pay uncertain

Steve Smith joined his colleagues for the first day of socially distant training with uncertainty over what they will be paid this financial year.

Steve Smith speaks to the media at Sydney Olympic Park on Monday. Picture: Getty Images

Steve Smith joined his Australian and NSW colleagues for the first day of socially distant training on Monday, with both groups still uncertain about what they will be paid or not paid this financial year.

Australian contracts have been offered, but the vital details left blank as cricket struggles to get a handle on its financial position. State contracts have also suffered another delay because of the uncertainties.

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Cricket Australia was due to provide the details one month ago, but — understandably given the environment — asked for a grace period and promised delivery by last Friday.

After a marathon board meeting that day, CA chairman Earl Eddings requested the Australian Cricketers Association grant ­another extension until Wednesday.

An email obtained by The Australian confirming the delay was sent to player agents on Monday by the ACA’s general manager of player relations, Brendan Drew.

“In response to a request from CA, the ACA agreed to provide CA with a three business day date extension to provide their revised revenue estimate until next Wednesday (June 3),” Drew wrote.

“Because of this, it was agreed that the dates for state player contracting also be extended so players and their agents can have the benefit of these revised estimates in their contract negotiations.”

The 35 male and female Australian players will learn the details of their contracts from Thursday. Negotiations with domestic players begins the same day and must be concluded by Tuesday, June 16.

All contracting depends on the players accepting CA’s revised forecasts.

Head office is attempting to re-forecast revenue projections to convince states and players of the need for cuts.

Chief executive Kevin Roberts initially asked for cuts to state grants of about 50 per cent before retreating to 25 per cent, but even that figure has been firmly rejected by Cricket NSW and Queensland Cricket, while the Western Australian Cricket Association will not accept reductions unless all the others do.

States, like players, have been waiting on new financial details. The original dire forecast has come to be seen as redundant with the indications the Indian tour will go ahead this summer, but Roberts claimed in a conference call with the media that there were still losses to revenue of about $80m from expected losses to gate revenue, debts that have not been paid and biosecurity measures.

Smith said the players were comfortable that the MOU provided them with a mechanism to share in the game’s pains and gains.

“We fought hard to be part of a revenue-sharing model — when the game’s (revenue) is going up we go up and when the game’s going down we go down. That’s part and parcel of it for us. We’re comfortable and it is obviously a tough time for a lot of people right now with COVID and what’s gone on in the world,” he said.

Whatever happens, it seems likely cricket operations will be hurt by the cuts with fewer coaches expected to be on tour with teams. There are many coaches in the set-up including batting, bowling and fielding coaches, an analyst, conditioning and medical staff alongside a flank of other employees who manage media, security and other roles.

“They all have a role to play, particularly as the game’s evolved and got more professional,” Smith said. “We’ve got people in different areas of expertise to help the team to prepare and get ready to play. If that happens it will take some adjusting. Guys might have to throw balls to one of the other batters or help out the bowlers in different things.

“There’s still a while until we are back out there and plenty of decisions to be made.”

Smith will be one player who has to decide between the domestic grind of state cricket and the millions on offer from the IPL should that tournament slot into the October-November window expected to be created if the T20 World Cup is cancelled.

“I don’t really know what’s happening at the moment,” he said. “There’s been lots of talk around World Cups being postponed and IPL playing in that window, but who knows? It hasn’t been decided yet. We’ll wait and see and I’ll do whatever is best at the time.

“When you are playing for your country in a World Cup, that is the pinnacle for one -day or T20 cricket. I’d prefer to play in that but if that doesn’t happen and the IPL is there … then so be it.”