In a significant stride towards gender equality in cricket, starting salaries for men and women in England's domestic game will be aligned by 2025. This change will coincide with the introduction of a new women's county competition, ensuring equal pay at both the 'Rookie' level, which is being introduced to women's cricket, and the 'Senior Pro' level for more established players.
The decision follows the recommendations of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report, released in June 2023. The report called for a major overhaul of the pay structure for women cricketers in England and Wales. It found that the average salary of England's women cricketers was only 20.6% of their male counterparts’ earnings, although the ECB placed that figure closer to 30%. The ICEC report set goals for equal pay in domestic cricket by 2029 and for international cricket by 2030.
While the ECB did not fully commit to the report's timeline, their decision to equalise starting salaries reflects their focus on offering equal opportunities for young players considering a professional cricket career. Currently, male first-class county cricketers earn a minimum salary of around £27,500.
This announcement builds on the ECB’s move last summer to offer equal match fees for men and women in international cricket, following an immediate recommendation from the ICEC report.
Beth Barrett-Wild, Director of Women's Professional Game, highlighted the importance of this step, saying, "Equalising starting salaries across men's and women's domestic cricket is a major move forward for women’s cricket in England and Wales. The changes we've made recently have focused on creating a sustainable and attractive product off the field while maintaining quality on it. Ensuring fair pay is vital in making cricket a viable and appealing career option for women."
Barrett-Wild also stated that making cricket as appealing to young girls as it is to boys remains a key objective, adding, "We know there is more work to be done, but today’s announcement is a crucial milestone on the journey towards gender equity in the sport."
The ECB has also confirmed that the eight Tier 1 counties in the new women's competition will have minimum squad sizes of 15 contracted players, with each county required to invest at least £500,000 in player salaries by 2025. A salary cap of £800,000 per club has also been established.
Emma Reid, PCA Director of Player Rights and Women's Cricket, expressed her support for the changes: "We are delighted to see the introduction of equal minimum salaries across men’s and women’s domestic cricket. This is a significant step towards achieving parity, and the PCA remains committed to continuing this progress."
The salary structure and budget plans have been approved by the ECB's Professional Game Committee (PGC), which includes representatives from first-class counties, the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA), and the ECB.