Opening batsmen Ed Cowan is likely to get a $100,000-plus pay rise and is all set to qualify for his maiden Cricket Australia (CA) deal.
Published: Jan 09, 2012, 01:53 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 09, 2012, 01:53 PM (IST)
Cricket Australia is likely to announce its central contract list for 2012-13 after the West Indies tour in April © Getty Images
Melbourne: Jan 9, 2012
Opening batsmen Ed Cowan is likely to get a $100,000-plus pay rise and is all set to qualify for his maiden Cricket Australia (CA) deal.
Besides Cowan, the other major beneficiaries will be new quicks Patrick Cummins and James Pattinson.
The Sunday Telegraph reported that Tasmanian opener Cowan, who made his debut in the Boxing Day Test against India, will clinch a national contract if he plays in the third Test in Perth, starting Friday.
CA’s base contract is $160,000 and Cowan will pocket an additional $50,000 in match fees if he plays all four Tests against India. Cowan’s domestic deal with Tasmania is estimated to be worth around $100,000.
Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) boss Paul Marsh also confirmed Cowan is on the verge of earning a CA contract.
“You have to get 12 points for an upgraded CA deal and at the moment Ed has 10 points. If he gets selected for the next Test he will get an upgrade,” said Marsh.
CA is likely to announce its 2012-13 list after the West Indies tour in April. But there is likely to be several changes for the first time in 20 years with more than a quarter of CA’s 25 contracted elite fighting to secure new deals. Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, Doug Bollinger and Jason Krejza will be in trouble while veterans Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, and Brett Lee could face downgrades at the twilight stage of their careers.
Mitchell Johnson, however, will be the biggest loser after being ranked in Australia’s top five players on a fixed contract worth around $1.5 million. Johnson’s toe injury will see him out of the Test side for at least a year and that could cost him $300,000. (IANS)
