Players prepare to take on board

Tim May: representing the players © Getty Images

A possible dispute is looming between Cricket Australia and the country's top players, with the players demanding to retain a percentage of the game's revenue, rather than a flat rate.

As things stand, the players receive 25% of the board's total revenue from gate takings, television rights and other promotional activities - it is estimated that will be worth A$28 million this season, of which about $15 million will go to the international players. But Cricket Australia reportedly wants to end the deal and the players are growing uneasy.

Ricky Ponting was questioned about the situation ahead of Tuesday's second one-dayer against New Zealand, and said he was happy to leave the negotiations to the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA). "We have Tim May [the ACA president] and the cricketers' association in place to deal with those things," Ponting explained. "He hears the player's voice and I'm sure he'll do his best to make sure it doesn't go back that way [to a flat rate]. Having spoken to him already he's pretty keen for us to have the 25%."

May described the existing revenue-share arrangement as crucial to the relationship between administrators and players. "We haven't received a proposal from Cricket Australia in regards to the player payment pool," May added. "It's inappropriate to comment about any proposal we haven't received."

The agreement stems from the days of Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket when it was part of the settlement between the rebels and the establishment. If there is a standoff, then it could be as bitter as the 1997 dispute concerning the drive for better conditions for players, which led to threats of strike action.

"Current players have been criticised for the finances they're receiving," said Matthew Hayden, a member of the ACA executive. "But that's a near-sighted view because the money attracts people to the game."

The existing deal ends on June 30 next year, and it is understood that preliminary discussions have already started. "We won't be detailing our discussions through the media," said a spokesman for the board. "We'll be holding our discussions face-to-face with May and his team."