Leading England cricketers Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes bracing for big financial cuts

With a full summer’s worth of cricket on the line, including a money-spinning limited-overs visit by the Aussies, England have warned their leading players that cost-cutting measures are coming.

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA - MARCH 11: England captain Joe Root and Ben Stokes during a nets session at the P Sara Oval on March 11, 2020 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

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England’s cricket players must “realise the bigger picture” and will reportedly be expected to take a pay cut as the country’s cricket governing body (ECB) tries to deal with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The tour of Sri Lanka was cancelled earlier this month and the ECB has announced no professional cricket will be played until the end of May.

England’s home Test series against West Indies and Pakistan and limited overs series with Australia from June to August are also at risk of being postponed or cancelled if the situation does not improve, leading to a further loss of revenue.

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Ben Stokes and Joe Root would be two of the players expected to take pay cuts.

“We’re looking at everything about how the game can make savings,” an ECB spokesman was quoted as saying by Britain’s The Times newspaper.

“There’s a formal process to go through with centrally contracted players but the game needs to pull together at this time. We believe the players realise the bigger picture.”

English players on central contracts have their salaries paid in full by the ECB, who awarded 10 Test contracts and 12 white-ball contracts in September last year.

The Times reported players such as Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler - who play for England in all three formats - would be expected to take pay cuts of approximately $400,000 during the three-month shutdown.

Originally published as Leading England cricketers Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes bracing for big financial cuts