Warner hits out at timing of MOU video

Australia vice-captain David Warner has claimed that by communicating their rationale to modify the revenue-sharing model at the heart of the ongoing pay dispute, Cricket Australia has undermined the men's team's push for success at the ICC Champions Trophy.

Speaking at a media conference in Birmingham today ahead of Australia's must-win ODI against arch-rival England at Edgbaston on Saturday, Warner described the timing of a CA-produced video that detailed why the revenue sharing model needed changing as "disappointing".

He reiterated the players' view that public debate of issues relating to the new MOU, which is scheduled to take effect from July 1, should wait until after the Champions Trophy tournament concludes on June 18.

But when questioned about his view on the timing of the latest explanatory video and infographic released by CA yesterday, Warner claimed CA would not have made them publicly available if they were supporting the players in their Champions Trophy campaign.

"We're here to win," Warner said today.

"If CA were trying to help us win, I don't think they'd be trying to release videos like that.

"We've got an important game coming up this week.

"That's our main focus.

"The MOU stuff can wait until after the game and after the tournament.

"From where we sit as players, it's the same as what we've always said.

"Our one hundred per cent support is with the ACA to get to the table with CA.

"We're sticking together as one with all players around our country.

"And we just want a fair share."

Image Id: F43C265D8C9D42AAB5A5A26C84A23491 Image Caption: Cricket Australia published this infographic on its social media channels

The Australian Cricketers' Association, representing the nation's 300 or so contracted players, believes the current revenue model whereby the players receive a set percentage (currently around 25 per cent) of cricket-related generated by CA should be retained.

The ACA has called for a broadening of what is agreed as 'revenue' and proposed that the players' share of that larger pool be reduced to 22.5 per cent, with a further 22.5 per cent invested in grassroots cricket and the remaining 55 per cent used to fund, promote and administer the game.

However, CA believes that in guaranteeing the players a share of revenue rather than surpluses that cricket generates the model is inflexible.

CA claims it prevents them from being able to pursue potential investment opportunities such as a planned fan engagement strategy because – regardless of the level of profit any such venture might return – around a quarter is immediately apportioned to the Total Player Payment pool.

In an opinion column published in News Corp Australia newspapers this week, ACA Chief Executive Alastair Nicholson listed a number of questions the players had raised including concerns on how CA's revenue was spent, and why only 12 per cent was currently invested in grassroots cricket.

"These are the questions the players are asking to try and better understand the minds of the CA board and management," Nicholson wrote.

The video, which features CA's Executive General Manager Kevin Roberts, and its accompanying infographic addresses why CA believes the revenue share model is unsuitable from a business perspective, how that impacts on grassroots cricket and provides a breakdown of current revenue expenditure.

While the video and infographic was not emailed directly to players currently taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy campaign, it was made available for public viewing through social media channels and on Cricket Australia’s corporate website.

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy nation

Schedule

1 June – England beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

2 June – New Zealand v Australia, No Result

3 June – Sri Lanka lost to South Africa by 96 runs

4 June – India beat Pakistan by 124 runs

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, No Result

6 June – England beat New Zealand by 87 runs

7 June – Pakistan beat South Africa by 19 runs (DLS method)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)