Players OK with less pay, more rest: Watto

Former Australian batsman Shane Watson says players would consider having their pay cut for a more manageable playing schedule.

Shane Watson says cricketers would consider having their pay cut for a more manageable schedule. (AAP)

Less is more when it comes to international cricket, according to Shane Watson, who believes Australia's top players would be happy take a pay cut if it meant a less arduous schedule.

The Australian team's upcoming workload has drawn plenty of criticism, mainly because of a Twenty20 against Sri Lanka in Adelaide scheduled the day before the Test side plays in India.

Selectors opted to take a second-string bowling attack to South Africa in their recent 5-0 one-day international series hammering, resting players in between a gruelling tour of Sri Lanka and the upcoming home six-Test summer.

"Whatever works to make sure that the product being produced is the most premium product," former Test allrounder Watson told News Corp Australia when asked if he believed players would consider a pay cut.

"If it meant there was a bit more life balance playing for Australia, I think whatever is required to actually get that, the players would be open to any of that for sure."

Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland said last week scheduling was a balancing act and hoped that cricketers could play less international games next year.

But he said cricketers who chose to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League during their down-time from international duties couldn't complain about the workload.

Former Test skipper Steve Waugh echoed those sentiments.

Watson sided with former Test teammate Simon Katich, who recently said the jam-packed calendar may diminish the significance of Australian selection.

"There's too much cricket on and my personal belief is some it is on for the wrong reasons and not for the betterment of cricket," Watson said.

"A lot of it comes down to the money that's generated ... and the deals that are done by the cricket boards that if you play games here we can play games at home.

"It needs to be looked at. As we saw in South Africa, we don't take our best team there thinking we'll be OK and we end up losing 5-0. No one wants that."