Australia players earn new marketing deal

The Australian Cricketers' Association has welcomed a new pay agreement that will allow players greater choice in the number of promotional appearances they make. Cricket Australia's 25 contracted players will soon receive financial rewards based on their promotional work for Cricket Australia and its sponsors, according to the Age.

In addition to their national playing contracts, the cricketers will earn a share of a $2.9 million marketing fund based on their individual market worth and the nature and frequency of their promotional appearances. The board has also cut the required number of promotional appearances for each player from 20 to 15 in 2009-10 because of the squad's hectic schedule.

"[It gives] more flexibility to the players who are busiest on field but still allows Cricket Australia to deliver value to their sponsors," the Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive Paul Marsh told the Age. "In a busy year such as 2009-10, it is inevitable that those playing all forms of the game will choose to do somewhere close to the minimum number.

"In reality, they have no choice given how much cricket they'll be playing. One of the strengths of this model is that in such a busy year other players will have the opportunity to step up, perform more appearances and therefore earn more money and build their profiles."

The required number of appearances will rise to 18 in 2010-11. The marketing contracts are part of a new memorandum of understanding expected to be announced this week.