Australian cricketers are set to lose out on millions of dollars worth of bonus money when the next round of pay negotiations get underway between Cricket Australia and Australian players in the coming weeks.
As part of the current collective bargaining agreement, which details how much money is available for players, both in the men's and women's teams, a bonus pool has been available since 2011.
It was brought in as part of the 2011 Argus Review into Cricket Australia after a disastrous home campaign saw the Aussies lose the Ashes to England.
At the time, it was said the bonus money would be a strong incentive for better on field performances, setting players' contracts more in line with those of corporates at Cricket Australia, relying on performance incentives.
However, on the back of the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal in 2018, which led to a cultural review of Australian Cricket, it was said the bonus money had created a win at all costs mentality, which was impacting the team on a global scale.
The Sydney Morning Herald are now reporting that a set of key principles have been agreed on between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association, which will include the next round of pay negotiations being a catalyst for cultural change in Australian cricket - something it's hard to argue against given the events of 2018 and the reputation the Australian team has on-field with other nations around the world.
Many cultural review recommendations are still yet to be enacted from the 2018 report, but Cricket Australia chairman Lachlan Henderson made it clear when he was appointed that it was going to be a priority.
It's understood the recommendations will suggest the bonus is moved into other areas like grassroots cricket and positive relationships with fans and sponsors.
