Cricket Australia celebrates International Women's Day
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 8:16 pm
Cricket Australia celebrates International Women's Day with women's player bonus
Cricket Australia's Board today voted to pay Australia's female international cricketers a $10,000 bonus each, recognising the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars winning two world championships in six months.
CA will also renew the contract of Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars' coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick.
CA Chairman Wally Edwards said the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars had been outstanding in winning the ICC Women's World T20 Championship in Sri Lanka late last year and backing up with the ICC ODI World Cup in India last month.
"Our players make many sacrifices to represent Australia as semi-professional cricketers and their performances are resulting in fans and media sitting up and taking notice of women's cricket," he said.
"Hopefully, their consistently excellent and entertaining performances will see women's cricket one day attracting commercial support from telecasters and sponsors that will see the game capable of supporting full-time professional female cricketers," Mr Edwards said.
The bonus will be paid to all members of both squads which represented Australia in either tournament.
CA hosted players at a celebration dinner in Melbourne tonight at which messages from Governor General Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Federal Sports Minister Kate Lundy were passed on.
Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, a former head of Australian women’s cricket, said: “Your superb win will encourage Australian girls to bowl harder, hit further and knock those bails out behind the boys in the backyard – and beyond."
Prime Minister Gillard said: “You are not just the world number one in all three formats of the game. You are one of the most successful sporting teams to ever wear the green and gold."
Sports Minister Lundy noted the Southern Stars were role models for all Australians and said the final match showcased the amazing depth of talent in Australian cricket.
All rounder Lisa Sthalekar, the first woman in the world to achieve 1000 ODI runs and 100 ODI wickets, was honoured at the dinner after announcing her retirement after 12 years of international cricket.
Cricket Australia's Board today voted to pay Australia's female international cricketers a $10,000 bonus each, recognising the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars winning two world championships in six months.
CA will also renew the contract of Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars' coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick.
CA Chairman Wally Edwards said the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars had been outstanding in winning the ICC Women's World T20 Championship in Sri Lanka late last year and backing up with the ICC ODI World Cup in India last month.
"Our players make many sacrifices to represent Australia as semi-professional cricketers and their performances are resulting in fans and media sitting up and taking notice of women's cricket," he said.
"Hopefully, their consistently excellent and entertaining performances will see women's cricket one day attracting commercial support from telecasters and sponsors that will see the game capable of supporting full-time professional female cricketers," Mr Edwards said.
The bonus will be paid to all members of both squads which represented Australia in either tournament.
CA hosted players at a celebration dinner in Melbourne tonight at which messages from Governor General Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Federal Sports Minister Kate Lundy were passed on.
Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, a former head of Australian women’s cricket, said: “Your superb win will encourage Australian girls to bowl harder, hit further and knock those bails out behind the boys in the backyard – and beyond."
Prime Minister Gillard said: “You are not just the world number one in all three formats of the game. You are one of the most successful sporting teams to ever wear the green and gold."
Sports Minister Lundy noted the Southern Stars were role models for all Australians and said the final match showcased the amazing depth of talent in Australian cricket.
All rounder Lisa Sthalekar, the first woman in the world to achieve 1000 ODI runs and 100 ODI wickets, was honoured at the dinner after announcing her retirement after 12 years of international cricket.