The Pavilion to Parity: The Sports Law Behind the Success of the Australian Women’s Cricket Team

From “Ladies Tickets”[1] and “novelty”[2] games to the team’s most recent 16-nil Ashes sweep[3], women's cricket in Australia has undergone a remarkable transformation since its inception. The Australian Women’s Cricket team is now arguably one of the world’s strongest sports teams, but its success is no coincidence. Cricket Australia’s robust sports law framework has played an integral role in the equitable treatment of their women’s programs, from grassroots to the Australian side. 

With its athletes receiving competitive salaries, recognition as full-time athletes, women-specific resources and infrastructures and expanded competitions and pathways, Cricket Australia sets new standards for gender inclusion in sports.

Contractual Equality and Remuneration: Supporting Performance

Until the end of the 1990s, Australia’s women’s side had to pay their way for international tours, requiring athletes to maintain employment outside of their cricket career, which changed following the partnership between Cricket Australia and The Commonwealth Bank in 1998-1999[4]. Whilst this partnership covered the cost of playing for the international team, athletes were required to use annual leave to play cricket[5].

 The structure changed significantly in 2017 when the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Australian Cricketer’s Association (ACA) and Cricket Australia (CA) was signed, and women were included in the shared revenue model, increasing women’s player payments from $7.5 million to $55.2 million, as well as being offered the same base contract pay as the men’s side[6]. This permitted women to forgo alternative employment to earn a liveable wage, allowing athletes to dedicate more time to developing their skills and increasing the quality of their game. 

A new five-year MOU was introduced in 2023[7]. ACA CEO Todd Greenberg highlighted that the updated MOU has mechanisms for identifying and acting on any potential areas for growth in the Australian Women’s team and the Women’s Big Bash League[8].

The current MOU significantly improves conditions for contracted female cricketers; minimum and average salaries have increased by 25%, and the number of Cricket Australia contracts offered to women has risen from 15 to 18[9]. All contracted players will now be recognised as full-time athletes. The agreement also ensures women receive equal percentages of shared revenue pools as their men’s side counterparts, with an increase to a share of $133 million, a $53 million increase from the previous agreement[10]. This evolved gender equity payment model has solidified cricket as the most lucrative sport for Australian women[11]. 

Furthermore, employment rights, such as parental leave including pregnancy, adoption and carer’s leave were revamped in the 2023 MOU[12]. These provisions acknowledge the demands of athletes and offer similar support to full-time employment and assist with long-term retention of experienced players ultimately bettering the team’s performance.

Funding and Infrastructure: Investing in the Foundations

Commitment to developing women’s infrastructure and increasing women’s access to resources at all levels attracts more participation[13], leading to more talent to support the long-term development of the Australian team.

7.4% of Cricket Australia’s defined revenue (forecast at $654 million) will be allocated to investment in women’s cricket and the female game generally[14]. This investment will be directed towards increased accessibility for women and higher quality amenities[15]. Improved infrastructure enables and empowers clubs and associations to drive cultural change, ensuring fair and equitable access to grounds and facilities for women and girls.

The clauses requiring commitment to funding women’s programs ensure a steady pipeline for talent and development from the grassroots to the national team, further strengthening the foundation for sustained success.

Governance: Ensuring Success at all Levels

The introduction of the women’s cricket working group was another notable step forward for the women’s sides in the 2023 MOU[16]. The group provides a dedicated forum for addressing specific issues and challenges related to women's cricket to ensure that the perspectives and interests of female cricketers are represented at all levels of the sporting body[17]. The inclusion of women's perspectives ensures diverse perspectives and decisions that consider the best interests of women’s cricketers.

Impact on On-Field Performance

The legal frameworks implemented by Cricket Australia through the MOU support women's dedication to cricket by paying them competitively, providing secure employment, and offering opportunities beyond their playing career[18]. These factors contribute to a more professional and sustainable environment for female cricketers, which ultimately leads to improved performance.

Furthermore, the ACA and CA’s commitment to funding the development of Women-specific infrastructure strengthens the sport from the grassroots level upwards, supporting the development of athletes and improving the overall quality of women’s cricket in Australia.

Following the introduction of the 2017 MOU, Australia won five world titles (2022 ICC Women’s World Cup, 2018, 2020 and 2023 T20 World Cups)[19] and has continued to thrive internationally, most recently winning their third consecutive ICC Champions Trophy[20]. These accolades coincide with the development of the sports law infrastructure to support women in cricket and suggest a correlation between legal frameworks and on-field success.

Conclusion

The pathway from exclusion to dominance on the world stage is more than just athletic achievement for women’s cricket in Australia; it is an attestation to the power of progressive legal frameworks in sports for both on-field success and the future of women’s participation in the game. The Australian Women’s Cricket Team’s success can be observed as a case study of the impact of these frameworks on athletic achievement.

The structural changes implemented by CA and the ACA should be reflected in the legal frameworks for the inclusion and support of women’s programs in other sports to encourage the levelling of the playing field for all athletes.

[1] https://www.mcg.org.au/sitecore/content/mcc/home/whats-on/latest-news/2022/november/ten-key-moments-in-the-history-of-the-melbourne-cricket-club

[2] https://storyplace.org.au/story/bowling-over-their-critics/

[3] https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4209168/australia-ashes-win-t20-world-cup-semi-final-loss-alyssa-healy-england-test-match-mcg-melbourne

[4] https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3310139.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] https://auscricket.com.au/news/aca-signs-mou-with-cricket-australia/

[8] Ibid.

[9] https://www.sportspro.com/news/cricket-australia-womens-players-mou-pay-salary-increase-wbbl/

[10] Ibid.

[11] https://cms.auscricket.com.au/documents/2023-2028-MOU-Highlights.pptx?v=1684798408

[12] https://auscricket.com.au/news/aca-signs-mou-with-cricket-australia/

[13] Ibid.

[14] https://cms.auscricket.com.au/documents/2023-2028-MOU-Highlights.pptx?v=1684798408

[15]https://issuu.com/cricketaustralia.comms/docs/web_21759_women_and_girls_action_plan_booklet_cm_v?fr=sOTEzZTY5Mjc0NDYhttps://issuu.com/cricketaustralia.comms/docs/web_21759_women_and_girls_action_plan_booklet_cm_v?fr=sOTEzZTY5Mjc0NDY

[16] https://cms.auscricket.com.au/documents/2023-2028-MOU-Highlights.pptx?v=1684798408

[17] Ibid.

[18] https://auscricket.com.au/news/aca-signs-mou-with-cricket-australia/

[19] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_women%27s_national_cricket_team#Tournament_history

[20] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%932025_ICC_Women%27s_Championship