Walking the million dollar talk to prize parity

The world of women’s sport took another important step forward yesterday, or two in fact, when the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced it would increase the prize pool for the upcoming T20 World Cup by a whopping 320 per cent. 

Last year the Australian Women’s team took home US$200,000 for their T20 World Cup win in the West Indies. The last Men’s T20 World Cup saw the West Indies pocket US$1.6 million for their win in India in 2016. 

Reflecting a clear plan, or ‘pathway’ to parity, the ICC further committed all additional funds to the Women’s tournament, bringing them a significant step closer to the Men’s with a US$1 million bounty for the win. 

Cricket Australia followed quickly, confirming it will make up the difference to provide immediate parity with the Men’s prize money wherever the Australian Women’s team place sending further reinforcement of change for our incredible athletes.

A global conversation

It was only a few months ago that videos went viral across the internet showing an impassioned crowd chanting for “equal pay” when the USW won the FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

World Cup winning midfielder, Megan Rapinoe has been a staunch equality advocate shining a burning light on the matter on behalf of USW, and female athletes globally, by calling on FIFA bosses to stump up on matters of equal pay and equal prize money for women’s soccer - paid less despite the women bringing in more revenue and more viewers than their male counterparts - and drawing fire from the American President, Donald Trump.  Pleasingly she received a glorious outpouring of support from the global social-sphere. 

This is clearly not just an issue in Australia. 

In September last year, the World Surf League announced it would award equal prize money for men and women across elite tour events in 2019 and beyond, attracting supportive comments from Australia’s six-time world champion and current world number one, Steph Gilmore, who noted “the prize money is fantastic, but the message means even more”. Claiming to be the first US-based global sports league with equal prize money, this move was considered a powerful precedent that would challenge the norm. 

The argument for parity

It’s been argued that pay in sport is ‘inextricably entangled with revenues, audiences, government subsidies and other complex mechanisms’ but I standby the view that in sport, the revenue argument is linked to historical under-investment. 

Saying players shouldn’t be paid because they don’t bring in the money is just punishing them for this historical under-investment. 

While we can’t expect women’s cricket to be generating big commercial dollars when we’ve not invested in the sport to build a profile that attracts commercial investment, we are clearly seeing the fruits of investing in professionalising the sport with equal pay.

As seen on the field in the Women’s recent Ashes victory over England, the whitewash in the West Indies and most recently, the win over Sri Lanka on home soil - including a record 18th consecutive ODI win. The difference in performance is clear, and can be linked to the professionalism of the sport in Australia. Also seen off field through the growing number of big name sponsors and commercial partnerships. Our athletes no longer have to work full time to train part time, rather their hours are spent honing their skills and preparing for the next match.

Growing the game at every turn

We have a record season ahead for a number of reasons. First up, we have our inaugural standalone WBBL tournament kicking off this weekend in North Sydney when the Sixers and Heat come together on Friday night. Fans will be able to see every ball of every rebel WBBL|05 game live and free with 23 matches to be broadcast around the country on the Seven Network, Fox Cricket and Kayo, while the remaining 36 matches will be streamed on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app in addition to radio coverage from ABC Radio.

We then turn our attention to the T20 World Cup in February where the world’s eyes will turn to Australia as we host this global tournament and break the world record for the highest attended women’s sporting event when we fill the MCG for the Final on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2020!

There has been a significant upswing in commercial sponsorships and broadcast coverage in the months past.

Print media is still lagging though there’s hope the UK’s Telegraph is paving the way with their new dedicated sports page and female journos covering women in sport. And Cricket Australia continues to pave the way with a landmark parental leave policy announced only last week. 

It seems, despite some stubborn, and sometimes backward steps, we are finally making financial headway for our incredible women in sport. Of course more needs to be done and we can’t take a break until this is a non issue. This will take continued efforts to raise awareness of our talented athletes and recognising their vital contribution to the games they play and to a society that benefits from equality.

That six of 10 young players signing up for cricket today are girls is a clear sign, Women’s sport is here to stay!