Annual
report

Our solid asset base will underpin the financial sustainability of the ACA for years to come and ensure we remain a vital partner in steering the fortunes of Australian cricket – fortunes that over the past twelve months saw us retain the Men’s and Women’s Ashes and win the Men’s ODI World Cup in India.

Just as importantly, it puts us in a strong position to continue to deliver for you, our members – for current, past, and future players. 

As strong as our position is, it does not mean our work is done. Instead, it provides us with an enviable base from which build on the significant achievements of the past – such as embedding a revenue share model and leading the push towards gender equity in Australian sport – and build a robust model for the game of the future.

Today, more than ever, the ACA must play a substantive role, in elevating the voice of the players, to better shape the future and protect all those things about our game that has endeared it to generations of Australians.

The ACA’s strong financial position reflects our belief in the strength of our game and the positive impact it can have for our members, not only today and in the future, but importantly for those who came before and enjoyed similar careers, but very different conditions to those our players enjoy today – conditions further enhanced through the most recent MOU between the ACA and Cricket Australia that came into effect in July. 

The most recent MOU, that takes us through to 2028 is an agreement that strengthens the partnership and enshrines the revenue share agreement and recognises the importance of the players to the health of our game.

It also ushers in a 66% increase in payments to our women cricketers, as well as more national and state contracts. 

Our female domestic cricketers now have an additional chance to increase their remuneration through the introduction of the Spring Challenge, which we advocated for to ensures games are not lost from a compacted WBBL – as well as providing an opportunity for players who may not get a chance to play much WBBL, to showcase their skills.

We acknowledge that the competition fell a little short of what we'd wanted, but hope that as early as next season, we can take some significant steps in moving towards a more meaningful competition that sheds its 'pre-season' moniker and is played at club grounds in a tournament setting.

Importantly, they also reflect a commitment from all parties to grow the game – and there is enormous capacity for growth right across the women’s game, as well as the men’s. 
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Meeting the moment

To maintain this linear course of advancement, let alone stay ahead of the curve in a complex and dynamic environment, is a difficult challenge.

The cricket world is marked by rapid changes in how and where players choose to apply their craft, as well as emerging technologies and global shifts, notably the rise of an affluent India.

India’s economy is now the world’s fifth largest, now surpassing that of the United Kingdom. The country’s sprawling diaspora, has been reported by The Economist as being bigger and more influential than any in history.

And due largely to the success of the Indian Premier League, cricket’s traditional model is besieged by with new entrants into the market more aligned to the franchised, shorter forms of the game. South Africa sending what was effectively a Second XI Test team to tour New Zealand in February after prioritising its domestic T20 tournament, is a harbinger to a future that threatens to undermine the appeal of the five-day game – a format that underwrites the revenue the Australian game receives from broadcasters. 

Combining the two leads you to a line Gideon Haigh wrote:

Increasingly, it is India’s world, we just live in it, and need to start pulling our weight, or the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will just become part of the IPL pre-season.

To meet this moment and to maintain our unique place in cricket’s landscape, it is necessary that the ACA continually adapts and refines its strategy.

A lot of work has gone into the ACA’s new long-term strategic plan, which has been thoroughly and carefully developed with wide consultation over the past 18-months.

The ACA Strategic Plan will ensure the basic elements of what we do as a players’ association continue to be our major focus – that we continue to meet our members’ expectations by aligning our operations and offerings with changing demands.

We will also aim to augment our position of financial strength by continuing to improve our operational efficiency and reduce or realign costs where possible. This will include exploring innovative ways to streamline our processes, optimise our resources and have an organisation that is productive and fit for purpose.

Such an organisation, working in a desirable industry will attract and retain the best talent that will underlie this success. Our team is one that is already skilled and motivated, but this is something we should not take for granted, but instead, something on which we should aim to continually improve.

All of this, combined with a strong foundation provided by us maintaining financial sustainability and long-term independence, will have us well placed to identify further opportunities for innovation and growth.

We say this as the ACA must not only retain its relevancy to members, but should also play a substantive role, in elevating the voice of the players, to better shape the game. 

The ACA’s bullish intent toward the future of the game and our belief in Australian cricket is what underpins our vision of thriving members connected to a healthy game.

Already, our past player program makes stronger the ties that run through Club, First Class and International Cricket to improve the Australian game at all levels. This included opportunities for our members to share their knowledge and passion within grassroots and Premier Cricket through paid coaching, Game Development appearances and the Premier Cricket Program. These partnerships are built into the MOU and have seen our current players commit funding from their portion of the game’s revenue to areas that need assistance.

The ACA also continues to provide a wide range of services to support our members, be it through the ACA Medical Support Scheme; Wellbeing Support; Personal Development Grants; or our free member Health Checks that this year was provided to hundreds of our members.

These are real and tangible benefits that help all our members be the best person they can be and is one small way of letting them know that they are, and will continue to be, a valued part of the Australian cricket story.

And the team at the ACA is also an important part of this story. Together, we would like to thank our Board, our Player Delegates and our Staff. The outcomes realised over the past year, and reported in this Report are testament to the passion and dedication they bring to our organisation.