Cricket boss warns of NZ player drain

New Zealand cricket is on the cusp of a player drain that can be only be averted with the introduction of terms and conditions that better reflect the changing cricket environment, warns New Zealand Cricket Players Association boss Heath Mills.

The NZCPA is about to start negotiations with New Zealand Cricket over the collective bargaining agreement which will set out the competition and contracting environment for our professional players over the next four years.

"It's going to be the most significant negotiation we've had to date given the changing landscape of cricket," Mills told the Star-Times.

"Cricket is changing from having a commercial base solely focused around international cricket to a commercial base built around a combination of international cricket and club or franchise competitions like the Indian Premier League."

Mills' argument, which will be tabled when he sits down with NZC around the New Year, will be that NZC's commercial base faces erosion unless it can retain the best players. And to achieve that requires investing more money in the both players and the environment they work in, by way of better and more widespread high performance programmes, a more "vibrant" national competition and better development pathways for young players.

"The biggest issue for all of us in the game in New Zealand is the ability to attract and retain our best players," Mills said.

"If we don't have a contract system and playing environment that retains our best players then we are at risk. In all professional sport around the world it's the competitions that have the best players that generate the revenue and if international cricket doesn't have the best players because our guys are either retired early or playing as freelancers in other competitions then international cricket won't be as commercially attractive as it has been and that will have a negative impact on how the game is funded at all levels.

"We're struggling to retain our best players now; guys are retiring before their time, for whatever reasons, and we may have a situation where out best players may opt to play casually for New Zealand so they can play in the IPL."

Mills is adamant this is not an empty threat. "We're on the cusp of it, no doubt. Our players have to be remunerated to a level where they are comfortable about staying here and plying their trade in a vibrant national competition and being available for the New Zealand team all year around – that should be a goal for all of us."

Players' earning currently come out of a pot based on 25% of commercial revenue NZC generates from the game. As an example, rugby shares about 32% of its revenue with the players and cricket may need to move towards that level.

Mills said the players were aware that revenue they help generate has to fund the amateur side of the game which is why they don't demand a massive slice of the action. "The current player share of commercial revenue in cricket is at the lower end of professional sport around the world. We have never followed the approach of most other sports around the world where players earn up to 60-75% of revenue."

But by the same token, the money has to talk.

"As we start negotiations with NZC we will find out what the numbers look like in the next four year period – hopefully they are good but if things remain the same we will end up like a lot of other sports in New Zealand where the best players end up playing overseas. If that's the case [NZC] can't build a commercial programme around what is left and they will have no income to fund the amateur levels of the game. This negotiation needs to address this issue otherwise we will be doing the game a disservice."

As well as remuneration Mills said high performance and development programmes were equally important.

"We're starting to get a quality high performance programme around the Black Caps but it's nowhere near replicated to level it needs to be at domestic level. We cannot take short cuts in this area otherwise our players are not prepared when they make the step up to international cricket."

Mills fears a vicious downward cycle if the players' point of view is ignored.

He argues that unless contract conditions are improved, players will walk away from central contracts with NZC and make their living from clubs or franchises. If that happens international cricket here will flounder. In turn, without the best players involved, NZC's earning from international matches will diminish, forcing an even greater player-drain.

- © Fairfax NZ News