County cricketers agree to "support package" to protect domestic game

As part of what has been agreed, through an initial period of April and May, players will agree to being furloughed by their county, if requested, while also taking a pay cut consistent with the reductions made to non-playing staff at the club

An agreement for a "support package" has been reached by players across county cricket to protect the domestic game through the coronavirus crisis.

The Professional Cricketers’ Association revealed in a statement that discussions with the ECB and the 18 first-class counties had reached a conclusion, with all parties coming to “an initial two-month agreement that will see maximum reductions to player salaries and relinquishing of domestic prize money”.

The measures have been put in place to protect the domestic game through what ECB chief executive has described as “the biggest challenge [cricket] has encountered in the modern era”.

As part of what has been agreed, through an initial period of April and May, players will agree to being furloughed by their county, if requested, while also taking a pay cut consistent with the reductions made to non-playing staff at the club.

The government's Job Retention Scheme, whereby the taxpayer will underwrite 80 per cent of wages up to £2,500 per month is set to run until at least the end of June, and has been designed to ensure employees who might otherwise have been at risk of redundancy keep their jobs while the Covid-19 outbreak is tackled by healthcare personnel and government officials.

The PCA has also handed over £1million in domestic player prize money for this season, with the ECB reallocating the funds to go towards helping counties with the implementation of the new County Partnership Agreement (CPA), which runs from 2020 to 2024.

According to the statement: “Those funds will then support the introduction of stanrdardised player contracts across the game, in turn providing vital financial support to players who leave the game in 2020 and beyond”.

Worcestershire batsman and PCA chairman Daryl Mitchell said: “I am pleased we have reached a collective agreement between the PCA, ECB and the 18 first-class counties and I thank all parties for the collaborative spirit of these discussions particularly at this most challenging of times.

“The understanding from our players and the willingness to help has been particularly heartening. Like many industries, cricket recognises the challenges it currently faces; the players have been alert to the need for them to play their part.

^{Tom Harrison has taken a temporary 25 per cent pay cut}

“The support I have had from the PCA Players’ Committee and many senior players around the counties has been outstanding, without them a collective agreement could not have been reached. As a group we have been in constant dialogue to ensure we are supporting the interests of all professional players in England and Wales while doing the right thing for the game.

“The coronavirus pandemic will continue to put financial pressure on the game and this initial two-month agreement will support the game for the period of April and May.

“We were due to start the County Championship season on Sunday and sadly for us all that will not be the case. As a group of players, we will do everything we can to ensure that when cricket does return the sport is in a position to thrive.

“This prolonged period of isolation is challenging and the PCA remains committed to helping all our members through these times with our world class welfare provisions.

“I also want to urge everybody once again to stay at home. With a four-day Easter weekend ahead of us it is vital we follow the government’s advice to protect the country.”

Essex and Kent became the latest counties to announce the furloughing of their playing staff on Wednesday afternoon, with Yorkshire having become the first club to do so on Monday. Kent club captain Sam Billings has remained un-furloughed - though has taken a pay cut in line with his teammates - in order to support the club's community efforts.

The Cricketer understands that those who are to be furloughed have been advised that they must not have formal contact with club officials during the time they are placed on the government programme. It is also understood that players have been given three-week training briefs, and will be required to keep themselves in peak physical condition at home.