Ashes player strike won't happen: Lehmann

Darren Lehmann admits Australian cricket's pay dispute will prove a distraction at the ICC Champions Trophy but is confident an Ashes boycott won't happen.

Australian cricket coach Darren Lehmann (R) with captain Steve Smith

Darren Lehmann (R) is confident Australian cricket's pay dispute won't lead to an Ashes boycott. (AAP)

Darren Lehmann is confident cricket's pay dispute won't lead to a player boycott of the Ashes but the Australian coach has urged both sides to find a resolution.

A former president of the Australian Cricketers' Association, Lehmann admitted the tense stand-off over a new memorandum of understanding would prove a distraction at next month's ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales.

But he said he was sure the situation would not worsen to the point where Australian players would go on strike for the Ashes, as flagged by David Warner.

"No, I wouldn't think so," Lehmann said on Thursday in Brisbane.

"And I'd hope not as a fan. I'm sure that won't happen."

Warner said earlier this week players were refusing to back down from their demand that Cricket Australia keep the current revenue-sharing pay arrangement and cautioned they might walk out on the Ashes if relations between the two parties strained further.

With Cricket Australia threatening to not pay players when current contracts expire on June 30, the ACA has set up a support fund for domestic and female cricketers who may be facing financial hardship.

It follows the governing body's refusal on Wednesday to enter mediation with the ACA.

"We are genuinely committed to getting a deal done before June 30 ... (but) it looks as though this impasse may continue for some time yet," ACA Player Liaison Manager Simon Katich said.

"Whatever can be done to ease some of the pressure on the players is welcome."

All contracts for female and international male cricketers expire on June 30 along with half of the domestic male players.

Lehmann said he would address the matter once the entire squad for the Champions Trophy had got together.

"You have to do that. You have to keep it open and communication so we know what direction everyone's going," he said.

"Every sport has (these issues), to be perfectly honest - there's sports around Australia having them now.

"There's no panic, it's just about the two parties getting together."

Lehmann was asked for his view on the merits of the revenue-sharing arrangement but declined to share it.

He said he had been in constant contact with skipper Steve Smith, who will be one of the last players to join the Champions Trophy squad after he guided Rising Pune Supergiant to the Indian Premier League final on Monday.

"We've spoken quite a lot, on many issues at the moment," Lehmann said.


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world