Annual Report 2018 - 2019 Table of Contents 04 President’s Report 06 Chief Executive’s Report 10 ACA Office Bearers & Staff 12 Cricket Operations 15 Membership 18 Vale 19 Professional Development Program 26 Past Player Program 29 ACA Masters 30 Grassroots Cricket Fund 32 Player Partnership Fund 34 Commercial 36 Australian Athlete's Alliance 37 Federation of International Cricketers' Associations 38 Player Milestones 43 Financial Statements 56 Independent Auditors Report Australian Cricketers’ Association Inc. ARBN 142 050 422 ABN 81 104 703 910 ACA Office Phone 103 9698 7200 Fax 03 9698 7299 Email [email protected] Web www.auscricket.com.au Level 1, 2 Ross Place South Melbourne VIC 3205 PO Box 395 South Melbourne VIC 3205 2 Australian Cricketers’ Association Annual Report 2018-2019 3 From the President It is said that in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity. Cricket over the last few years has known much of ‘crisis’, but from the tough conversations cricket had to have we are now starting to see some significant positive changes in the sport. I believe much of this change is because Cricket; supporting local clubs and Cricket Australia’s Chairman, for his role in This includes: the game at the elite level is correcting re-connecting elite level players and implementing this recommendation from its course – in part by leading Australian administrators to local cricket. The Ethics Centre report. Principles to both guide and drive fairness sport in the way we recognise and reward and diversity on the ACA Executive our female athletes, and by rediscovering We should all understand that these Significantly, we have also assumed the connection to the true source of are incredibly significant moments for responsibility for managing the Australian Committee; Australian cricket’s success over decades our sport. It is no overstatement to Cricketers' Retirement Account The numbers, status and skills of ACA Executive past - club and domestic cricket. Our elite characterise these ongoing changes as a (ACRA). The ACA has driven the fund’s Committee Members; player groups have recognised the need ‘quiet revolution’ in cricket. modernisation into a more sophisticated for change and have delivered a brand of lump-sum and annuity model with interest The roles and terms of office for those Executive These are the investments - the ethical, cricket that Australians can be proud of. and other investment earnings to be Committee Members; and contractual and governance changes allocated to the players for the first time. The ACA’s constitution directs us to be that if properly implemented will, in very The express ability of the Executive Committee the ‘voice’ of Australia’s professional practical ways, achieve the much-needed To this, we are pleased to have announced to do things like create sub Committees to deal players - past, present and future. This is course correction for cricket overall. the ACRA Board of Management, with ACRA, risk, audit, cricket and other matters. the lens we apply to everything we do and comprising the independent chair Greg They are an indicator of the growth and Healy; ACA's nominee Janet Torney, Todd every position we take – to support our I have confidence that because of the tough maturity of the Australian Cricketers’ Shand; Dominique Hogan-Doran, and Craig membership, but always with an eye to conversations cricket had to have, and the positive Association. Bingham. the future. We must leave the game better changes that have emerged as a result, the game than we found it. It has been this way since Since 1997, our Membership has grown and the ACA are much better placed to deal with the the inception of the ACA in 1997, when our Plainly the ACA is growing, taking on from a handful of players to over 1,500. future challenges we will face. founding players spoke important truth to very significant financial and wellbeing responsibilities power when it needed to be spoken. There is now both an understanding of the issues, Female cricketers have become both for its Members Members of the ACA and party to the and the governance we need to drive the solutions What has always given us the strength to and using one Memorandum of Understanding with of more investment in local, grade and grassroots do this is that we speak with your voice. our advocacy Cricket Australia. The hard-earned gender cricket; a permanent and stronger connection What we achieved from the last MOU is to promote equity remuneration model has been between the elite and local levels, and the genuine what you asked us to advocate for. The list necessary change. achieved and now must be built on. advancement of cricket for all genders. is significant. As both a driver and the subject of change The wellbeing of players now makes I am pleased to be continuing as Chairman of our With a foundation based on an appropriate we must look to our up a large part of what we do. For newly-expanded Board and I am personally thrilled share of the game’s revenues, we achieved structures to ensure we current players, the GamePlan Player that Shane Watson has agreed to take on the a gender equity pay model and one are ready for the important Development Program is administered President’s role. collective agreement for both men and role the ACA will continue jointly with CA to support current and women - in a first for Australian sport. to play in the years ahead. I would like to thank you, the ACA membership, for transitioning Players to better equip This included the removal of clauses in your support over my time as President. themselves for life on and off the field. Our contracts which differentiated women That's why we have renewed Past Player Program is delivering much from their male counterparts and paved our own governance arrangements A big thank you also to my fellow ACA Executive needed support for the generations who the way for the recently introduced and constitution against these modern members who donate time and energy to upholding played our game, predominantly for the parental leave policy that will provide challenges. the values of the ACA and who have provided love of it. 12-months paid leave for birth and invaluable support and counsel. adoption; and a guaranteed contract The most appropriate form of legal entity There is also the development and extension for the following contract to govern the ACA is to change from And finally, to the staff and management of the management of the Grassroots Cricket year, in line with players’ contractual an incorporated Association to a Public ACA; a proud team who constantly strive for the Fund, run jointly with Cricket Australia, arrangements. Company Limited by Guarantee (like other betterment of the ACA membership – past, present funded by the Players from their share large not-for-profit enterprises, charities and future - a massive thank you for another busy, of the game’s revenues to support We achieved more investment into local and sporting organisations). sometimes challenging but hugely productive year. community cricket clubs. cricket through a $30 million-dollar We are incredibly well-served by our dedicated staff. Grassroots Cricket Fund, initiated this year. The renewal and strengthening of our The commencement of the Australian governance also provides context to Cricket Council, where for the first time, We have also argued on the need for big revise our Constitution's wording to the the ACA takes a seat alongside cricket’s governance changes in Cricket, such as new 'all of game' MOU, the gender-neutral most senior leaders, is a significant the Australian Cricket Commission, the contracting of players and to keep pace moment in the governance of cricket re-empowerment of State and Local with the changing nature of the global Greg Dyer in Australia. I commend Earl Eddings, game. 4 From the President Australian Cricketers’ Association Annual Report 2018-2019 5 Chief Executive's Report I am pleased to be able to deliver another report to Development of a new Wellbeing We will continue to work with FICA Male Domestic Cricketer members, after a strong year for the ACA and its education framework into 2019/20 to safeguard and of the Year improve the game of cricket. Matthew Wade membership. We have witnessed many outstanding on-field Premier Cricket Program performances from an individual and team perspective, both AAA Hall of Fame This program has now delivered over Cathryn Fitzpatrick on a domestic and international front. $4 million to 102 Premier Clubs, We are again excited to be a member to support ACA members playing, of the Australian Athletes’ Alliance, Hall of Fame coaching or mentoring at Premier bringing us closer together with all Dean Jones Cricket level around the country. the different codes across Australia. Hall of Fame We have now had 269 members This year, as a collective, we Billy Murdoch engaged in the Program, with 357 continued to work in the space grants provided since 2015. JLT Cup Most notably - congratulations must A key part of the year was the The ACA membership grew to 1547 of player welfare, paying special Victoria go to the Australia Female team, review into the culture of cricket in 2018-19, which is a testament to In 2018-19 Highlights included: attention to career transition, mental after their magnificent win at the by The Ethics Centre, of which the the hard work of Clea Smith, Kirsty health and wellbeing and women’s WBBL T20 World Cup. Well done to all ACA participated with a detailed Lamb, Megan Pauwels and the six $1 million invested into Premier sport.