BBL and WBBL players driving growth in the game

29 December, 2016

ACA Chief Executive Alistair Nicholson has lauded the contribution of the domestic male and female players in the Big Bash, in a recent interview with Gerard Wheatley on ABC Grandstand.

Nicholson was speaking after the ACA Member Function in Melbourne and featured on the Test Cricket coverage prior to Day 4 of the Test.

For the full audio from ABC Grandstand, please click here.

Pressed by the ABC journalist on the importance of the Revenue Share Model, Nicholson highlighted the importance of the BBL and WBBL in growing the game.

"I think the players in the BBL and WBBL have really created a fantastic product that now can help grow the game," Nicholson said.

"I think it makes sense from the player group to be part of that based on the work that's been done in the years gone by.

"[The BBL] feeds into what the players and the origins of the revenue share are around, [which is] growing the game."

The model, which has been in place since the first MOU in 1998, has allowed for the players to share in the revenue of the game, and to grow the game as genuine partners.

Nicholson said that the model was a non-negotiable in the current MOU discussions with Cricket Australia.

"It's a model that works and we'd like the female players in that model," Nicholson said.

"It's something that's had 20 years, and also it's within what the game can afford. So, Cricket Australia get 80 per cent of the revenues in the game. Less than 20 goes to the player group."

Nicholson recognised the current players for their significant contribution to the past players, which was highlighted at all 2016-17 ACA Member Functions.

"There's definitely a strong connection. I think part of what we've done in this MOU and this collective agreement period is the players have given back nearly 30 million dollars to the past players and the programs that they do.

"The mentality there is very much that the cricketers that paved the way for the current players benefit, so it's important that it's recognised and given back.

"Nowhere in the world does that happen in other sporting groups. And the more that we can encourage and promote that the more it's good for the game and the overall partnership."

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