A bitter pay dispute between Australia’s cricketers and the national board appeared set to remain unresolved by a deadline today, leaving more than 200 players unemployed and upcoming series against Bangladesh and England in jeopardy.
Eleventh-hour talks failed to produce a breakthrough this week and relations have soured to the point that the players’ union is refusing to deal with Cricket Australia’s (CA) lead negotiator.
The Australian Cricketers’ Association has demanded CA’s long-serving chief executive James Sutherland step up to the dealing table and help end a standoff that could ultimately trigger a damaging round of player boycotts.
The pay deal, known as the Memorandum of Understanding, is to expire at midnight today, two days before players selected for an Australia A tour of South Africa are to report for a training camp in Brisbane.
CA has remained silent on Sutherland’s intentions, but high performance boss Pat Howard has made the board’s position clear.
Howard told players in an e-mail on Wednesday not to sign with other sponsors or play in “disapproved” cricket in case it put them “at risk” of a potential, future CA contract.
The sticking point remains the argument over a revenue-sharing scheme that has underpinned contracts for 20 years.
The model has helped make Australia’s cricketers among the best paid in the world, but CA says it no longer fits commercial realities and is robbing the grass-roots of vital funding.
CA made a revised offer to the players last week, its first concession in six months.
However, its pledge to share “international surpluses” with all domestic players fell short of the union’s demand for a share of overall revenue and was rejected.
Prominent players, including captain Steve Smith, have been vocal in backing the union’s stance, but their resolve will not truly be tested until they wake up tomorrow morning with no deal on the table.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely