White Ferns/Women’s Master Agreement: Historic new financial agreement explained

The $80,000 top bracket of the WMA nearly doubles the previous high of $48,000.

In a historic new deal known as the Women’s Master Agreement, reached in principle by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA) on August 13, the total player payments for New Zealand’s women’s cricketers have been more than doubled.

As per the terms of the three-year agreement, top White Ferns players will now earn as much as $80,000 per year – nearly twice as much as the previous high of $48,000.

In all, 17 players will earn central contracts from NZC, two more than the previous player agreement, and will earn at least $44,000 per year. An additional $16,000 can also be earned in match fees.

Visual Highlights of the Women’s Master Agreement.https://t.co/qKNsCtfWvp pic.twitter.com/2XoE74Xxi4

— NZCPA (@NZCPA) August 13, 2019

White Ferns captain Amy Satterthwaite has hailed the Women’s Master Agreement as a historic and progressive accord that provides another significant step forward for the game in New Zealand.

What are the key features of the WMA?

• A total Player Payment Pool of $4.136m across the three-year term
• Domestic players included for the first time, increasing the total number of players on contract to 79 – up from 15 in the previous agreement
• 17 (up from 15) centrally contracted WHITE FERNS earning a minimum remuneration of between $44,000 and $64,000 annually. This includes a retainer payment, a retirement fund contribution and a promotional payment
• In addition, WHITE FERNS can each earn up to $16,000 in match fees per year
• 8 centrally contracted Development Players earning $7,500 for participating in NZC high performance programmes and the two domestic competitions
• 54 (nine per Major Association) domestic players on Domestic Competition Agreements worth $3,250 – in consideration of their availability for the Super Smash and Hallyburton Johnstone competitions
• Players continuing to have the right to participate in overseas T20 competitions in Australia, England and India

The WMA is the result of negotiations between the NZCPA and NZC and, when finalised, will replace the former Memorandum of Understanding, which expired on July 31.

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