Cricket’s baby boon blazes a trail for all

It is no coincidence that Cricket Australia has chosen today - International Day of the Girl - to announce its new parental leave policy. A policy that has been three years in the making and is a genuine reflection of Australian Cricket’s commitment to being Australia’s number one sport for women and girls.

The policy is a game changer for females in sport and provides a more inclusive career path for hundreds of current and future female cricketers. Importantly it acknowledges that elite athletes are unique. 

As ABC’s Brittany Carter reports, funded by the players' payment pool, incorporates adoption and foster care, while citing the importance of compassionate leave for those suffering miscarriage or stillbirth.

When I took time out from my career to have children I had the comfort of some financial support from my employer and the knowledge that I could return to my post. I didn’t have to worry about my physical state on return other than meeting my own standards.

Clea Smith, former Australian player and current GM Member Programs at the Australian Cricketers’ Association, articulated the player conundrum beautifully when she said that apart from the impacts of pregnancy on a contract that is tied to performance, elite players need to be at the highest levels of fitness at all times and have not previously been supported to return to fitness following childbirth. Add to that the need to juggle child-rearing with significant amounts of time on the road, most have called an end to their careers when faced with the decision of parenthood. This policy changes things considerably.

Our female athletes will not only have a guaranteed return to their existing contract, they will be supported to take up an ‘off-field’ role in the lead up to their delivery, they will be further supported to return to the elite physical condition required by the game, and they will have help to manage family demands on the road.

In 2017, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association negotiated a pioneering outcome for all players, offering the same base rate of pay regardless of gender. This saw a seven-fold increase in payments for elite female cricketers, from $7.5 million over the previous five year period to $55 million over the term of the current collective bargaining agreement. This commitment is in place with a view to renegotiation in 2023, at which point the group premiums will be reviewed.

Today, cricket is the most lucrative team sport for women in Australia, with national players receiving an average of $200,000 a year, and the stars significantly more, while domestic players with WBBL and state contracts earn an average of more than $55,000. This has made cricket one of the first fully professional women’s domestic team sport in Australia. 

The launch of Australian Cricket’s Parental Leave Policy is another significant step forward - not just for CA and ACA as we work together to make our sport a genuine sport for all - but for Australian sport, for elite players who are keen to have their own families but have been delaying for career reasons, and for women and girls more broadly. I know there are organisations from all industries looking to identify ways to be more inclusive for all - I believe this is a game changer that might inspire others.

Today is International Day of the Girl, an international observance day declared by the United Nations in 2012, to increase awareness of issues faced by girls around the world. While I can’t take credit for the policy, I can pat Australian Cricket on the back for a job well done on such an important day for all of us.

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