Sport Minister Greg Hunt suggests Government could intervene in Cricket Australia pay dispute

The Australian Government could step in should the pay stand-off between Cricket Australia and players reach a crisis point, according to Federal Sport Minister Greg Hunt.

With only weeks of the memorandum of understanding remaining and the prospect of a player strike still lurking in the background, the situation appears no closer to being resolved.

Australia's players could find themselves out of contract and without pay from 1st July, and some have raised the prospect of an Ashes boycott if the situation can not be remedied.

Players have also hit back at an Cricket Australia video, released this week, in which the governing body explains its pay offer.

However, players have branded the video as “propaganda” and suggested that figures showing the Big Bash as having made a $33 million loss over its first five years, as a sign of mismanagement

The Australian Cricketers Association called for an independent investigation after reports of the loss, despite record crowds and TV audiences in excess of 1 million per match.

Fearing a potential strike, Minister Hunt says cricket is "part of our national identity", and the Government would ensure no such boycott would occur through the upmconing summer.

Speaking to the ABC, Minister Hunt stated "if it got to a last-minute situation, I suspect that we would offer to provide good offices brokering between the parties.

"But there is six months between now and the Ashes. It would be unthinkable that in the end, we wouldn't have a full team.

"I do not see either the players or the administration returning to the late '70s where we had a second-rate team. The players love playing for Australia.

"The administration, Cricket Australia, knows that this is not just fundamental to sport, it is part of our national identity. I am very confident that they will reach an agreement."

22nd May 2017 - FEDERAL SPORTS MINISTER SUGGESTS NEW LOTTERY TO FUND NATIONAL SPORTS PLAN

12th May 2017 - WACA TO HOST DECEMBER ASHES TEST

28th April 2017 - PLAYERS REJECT CRICKET AUSTRALIA PAY OFFER

27th April 2017 - ANALYSTS ADVISE CHANNEL NINE TO MOVE AWAY FROM LOSS-MAKING CRICKET BROADCAST COVERAGE 

4th April 2017 - RESEARCH SHOWS CRICKET HAS AUSTRALIAN SPORT’S LARGEST SOCIAL MEDIA REACH

27th March 2017 - CRICKET AUSTRALIA MOVES TO XXXX AFTER END OF TWO DECADE-LONG CUB LINK

6th January 2017 - CRICKET AUSTRALIA CHIEF EXECUTIVE BELIEVES BBL CAN’T BEAT TEST CRICKET