Australian Cricketers Association Sends Big Warning Over Pay Dispute

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Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Alistair Nicholson has warned the cricket pay dispute could drag on beyond the Ashes, putting the tour in jeopardy and cost cricket a lot of money.

Nicholson warned players in an email on Saturday, published by The Australian, that arbitration could push the dispute into the Ashes starting in November.

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said on Thursday arbitration was necessary if the parties could not agree to a deal over the next few days.

Nicholson has told the players it wasn't the right way forward.

“Arbitration would bring about a significant delay in resolution as it would take many months, (perhaps 6 to 9 months) [and] could be very costly (possibly costing hundreds of thousands of dollars which would be better spent in grassroots investment), and involve a multitude of policy and financial questions unique to elite international team sports which the arbitrator would need to consider," he wrote.

“Right now, we believe the better investment of our time and resources is continued negotiations with CA which will occur throughout the weekend. We will then have a position on arbitration by next week.

“We also believe mediation is a vastly superior process for cricket should the dispute not be resolved.”

In response, Cricket Australia said today it would not speculate on the details of arbitration.

It only said it would "reiterate players would be re-contracted at the commencement of arbitration and remain contracted until the final MOU can be signed".