Aussies in line to become millionaires

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced on Wednesday that one of their players would be earning Aus $ 1million (US $ 520,000) annually during the life of a new four-year agreement with the board.

"In the course of this agreement we will have our first million-dollar cricketer," ACB chief executive Malcolm Speed told a news conference.

"The Australian cricket team will become the best-paid sporting team in Australia, the best-paid cricket team in the world.

"The cricket pie has grown significantly. There's more money there to be spread across the players, there's more money to be spread across the state associations...and the business of running Australian cricket."

Speed said an ACB-contracted player could have earned a maximum of $625,000 during the 2000-'01 season, but this was projected to rise to $1.162 million in 2004-05 under the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) chief executive Tim May said it was just reward for the best team in the world.

"There are significant restrictions placed upon the players," May said.

"We think one million dollars per annum for a player is just reward for their efforts and their sacrifices.

"At the moment in world cricket, it's a global sport and these guys are the best in the world."

One of the key restrictions is that players who accept overseas contracts will be required to forego 12.5 per cent of their retainer.

Australia's Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, both boasting more than 300 test wickets, played English county cricket last year.

The ACB announced a 25-man list of contracted players for the 2001-02 season on May 1.

The players are ranked from one to 25 and it is the number one-ranked player who stands the best chance of topping the million-dollar mark.

Speed said that chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns would speak to the players next week about their rankings.

"The selectors rank the guys from one to 25. That's not the business of the ACA to know who's number one and who's number two," May said.

Speed added: "I'm not going to guess who the first one-million dollar player will be. I think you're familiar with the process of ranking the players.

"There's an additional allowance for captain and vice-captain. It's now a reasonably significant sum.

"There are four selectors. They work very hard at this ranking process."

Mail Cricket Editor