Cricket: Domestic players stumped for cash

By Terry Maddaford

New Zealand's home-based cricketers could be hit in the pocket as New Zealand Cricket and its associations struggle with plans for a new-look domestic season.

Last season, representative players earned between $11,000 and $15,000, depending on their level of contract, plus another $6000 for playing the early-season Shell Conference series.

But with budgetary and other constraints, there could be less in the pot this summer, which could force many players to reconsider their playing futures.

The format and playing schedule for the 1999-2000 season should be known early next month, but NZC operations manager John Reid admits there is plenty to be decided before then.

"We have to consider a number of issues before releasing any programme," he said. "We had a meeting with the chief executives of the six major associations after last season and discussed a number of issues. We have been looking at all competitions from Conference cricket, to Shell Cup and Trophy and Max."

Reid said the national association was keen to have the international players available for as many Shell Cup games as possible. To do that, it will probably schedule the domestic one-day programme from late December - after the West Indies have toured and before the Australians arrive in mid-February.

"We are determined to have some form of Conference cricket in November-December to accommodate England A, who will be touring at that time," Reid said.

"There have been calls to expand the Shell Trophy as a means of giving our cricketers more first-class cricket, but if that can't be done there would be a real need to continue the Shell Conference series."

The Max Cricket League, traditionally a good earner for the players, has been under the spotlight, with suggestions that it be shortened to just one three-day weekend to cut costs.

Other options include playing it solely as a Friday night league over a number of weeks.

The Shell Trophy is the enigma. It is the vital link between domestic first-class cricket and international play, yet attracts virtually no public interest. Associations long ago gave up gate charges and it costs New Zealand Cricket $180,000 a round (times five) to host the trophy competition.

To expand, as some have suggested, to a double round-robin would need a $1.8 million investment.

"New Zealand Cricket propped up 50 per cent of the Shell Cup and Shell Trophy costs last season as well as the total costs, including player payments, for the New Zealand team, New Zealand A and all involved in Shell Conference," Reid said. "It cost a lot of money, and we are not only talking player payments here."

New Zealand Cricket has seen its budget escalate from around $7 million a couple of years ago to closer to $20 million now.

"Our stated goal has been to keep players in the game," Reid said. "But we can only pay what we can afford."

Former test opening batsman and now Auckland captain Blair Pocock said it was fast becoming a Catch 22 situation for New Zealand's first-class cricketers.

"I'm sure we all want to play but we have to be realistic in trying to meet the demands of first-class cricket," Pocock said. "Last season the Auckland team had 84 practice sessions, including 40 in the winter. Add on the number of days you travel and play and it quickly mounts up.

"I, and I'm sure most other players, don't play to make money but we have to get some compensation. I got married last year and we have a baby but I can't realistically go to a prospective employer and ask him to pay me and give me all that time off. There has to be some balance."

Last season, domestic cricketers were paid $1000 for Shell Trophy (four-day) matches, $500 for Shell Cup (one-day), $250 for each Cricket Max game and a total of $6000 for playing all matches in the Shell Conference.

"The elite [New Zealand] players are making a lot of money and so they should," said Pocock. "But it is players below that level who really have to look at where they are going.

"I'm 28 and still have some unfulfilled ambitions in cricket.

"If I don't get back into the New Zealand team by the end of this season then I will probably reconsider my future."