Pay increase for 100 women is a “step in the right direction”

The best players will now win £50,000 in the competition franchise, up from £31,250 in 2023.
England bowler Cross was in the upper bracket of runners- against the Northern Superchargers last season.
"It's obviously incredible," Cross said on the podcast BBC's No Balls.
"£50,000 to play women's cricket in the UK is crazy. It's much more than the low paid male player now too."
In the first year of The Hundred in 2021, the top female players earned £15,000 while the lowest paid male players earned £30,000.
But Cross and No Balls co-host Alex Hartley, who played for Welsh Fire before retiring at the end of last year's tournament, said there were still areas for improvement regarding the lowest-paid players, whose salaries increased from £7,500 to £8,000.
"Before anyone comes to me with negative opinions, I think it's great," said Cross.
"My thing is that we continue to put money in the pockets of same players who continue to receive them. .
"I'm sure at some point, there allegedly had a discussion around a table at the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] and that they had to attract players with money, but they were attracting these players anyway.
"You just have to keep going in the right direction and it is. The men's salary is capped, but £8,000 for the female player the lowest paid, while men get £30,000, that's a big difference.
" I hope we can just keep these small victories and continue to progress."
In 2023, all Players in the highest salary bracket were either foreign players or England internationals.
The domestic setup for women's cricket is not entirely professional, with 80 players signed by their regional teams and 18 players. on full central contracts in England.
The average annual salary of a women's regional cricketer is £25,000. Some of those who star in The Hundred but are without domestic contracts are still studying or have other jobs.
"When I saw that the bottom one was now £8,000, I thought the one from the top could surely go up. to maybe £40,000 and you filter it down," Hartley added.
"Then pedal board players and girls who have to take time off work and play all kinds of games can earn a little more money.
"The title is "how good is it that women are now winning this?" - but there are actually only two players per team."

Sports Jan 24, 2024 0 24 Add to Reading List

Pay increase for 100 women is a “step in the right direction”

Alex Hartley (left) for Welsh Fire and Kate Cross (right) for Northern Superchargers

The best players will now win £50,000 in the competition franchise, up from £31,250 in 2023.

England bowler Cross was in the upper bracket of runners- against the Northern Superchargers last season.

"It's obviously incredible," Cross said on the podcast BBC's No Balls.

"£50,000 to play women's cricket in the UK is crazy. It's much more than the low paid male player now too."

In the first year of The Hundred in 2021, the top female players earned £15,000 while the lowest paid male players earned £30,000.

But Cross and No Balls co-host Alex Hartley, who played for Welsh Fire before retiring at the end of last year's tournament, said there were still areas for improvement regarding the lowest-paid players, whose salaries increased from £7,500 to £8,000.

"Before anyone comes to me with negative opinions, I think it's great," said Cross.

"My thing is that we continue to put money in the pockets of same players who continue to receive them. .

"I'm sure at some point, there allegedly had a discussion around a table at the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] and that they had to attract players with money, but they were attracting these players anyway.

"You just have to keep going in the right direction and it is. The men's salary is capped, but £8,000 for the female player the lowest paid, while men get £30,000, that's a big difference.

" I hope we can just keep these small victories and continue to progress."

In 2023, all Players in the highest salary bracket were either foreign players or England internationals.

The domestic setup for women's cricket is not entirely professional, with 80 players signed by their regional teams and 18 players. on full central contracts in England.

The average annual salary of a women's regional cricketer is £25,000. Some of those who star in The Hundred but are without domestic contracts are still studying or have other jobs.

"When I saw that the bottom one was now £8,000, I thought the one from the top could surely go up. to maybe £40,000 and you filter it down," Hartley added.

"Then pedal board players and girls who have to take time off work and play all kinds of games can earn a little more money.

"The title is "how good is it that women are now winning this?" - but there are actually only two players per team."