Cricket Australia Board rejects players' wage deal

Wage negotiations between Cricket Australia and the players' union are at a stalemate after the Board rejected a proposal endorsed by Tim May, the Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive. May said the decision came despite making significant progress during dealings with James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive.

"The ACA has at all times approached these negotiations with the intention of balancing the interests of the game with those of the players," May said. "We believe that our rejected proposal properly reflects such balance."

May said the negotiations had reached a critical stage as Cricket Australia continued to work to dilute the players' share of the game's revenue from 25% under the current Memorandum of Understanding to 23%. The agreement expires on June 30 and May demanded the Board revisit their position.

"The present players have taken team performances and the value of cricket's major revenue streams to unsurpassed levels in this country," he said. "It is disappointing that CA seek to reward the players' contribution by reducing the players' share of the game's revenues."