As of today, 230 of Australia's leading cricketers are effectively unemployed. The deadline to accept a pay deal from Cricket Australia lapsed with no resolution. Unfortunately for many of the cricketers, it will be difficult to garner public sympathy for their plight.
In an era of practically zero real wage growth for the vast majority of Australians over the last few years, many will see the Australian captain, Steve Smith's and others decision not to accept his current salary of $2,000,000 AUD (before endorsements) as an obscene cash grab.
Given the average state players are on base salaries in excess of $230,000 AUD I'm thinking many will agree with the sentiment to cut these players loose, let them subsist as mercenary T-20 guns for hire and rebuild the team from scratch. Clearly the Baggy Green now means less than it used to.
Australian cricket survived the decimation that it suffered at the hands of Kerry Packer and his World Series Cricket of the 70's. In fact, Australian cricket came back better and stronger than ever before.
Yes, Australia will lose the Ashes (something they have recently been adept to doing in spite of multi million dollar awards), and the team will probably become the world whipping boys again for a while, but maybe we will rebuild with the likes of Border, Boony, Swervin Mervin, Taylor and the odd Waugh, Warne and McGrath.
At the very least, they could take some tips from the women, who are acquitting themselves so well in the world cup.
I'd pay to watch that!
