- Title: Steve Smith hoping cricket dispute is resolved soon
- Date: 24th May 2017
- Summary: WATFORD, ENGLAND, UK (JUNE 21, 2015) (REUTERS) DAVID WARNER TRAINING (2 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 7th June 2017 16:57
- Keywords: Champions Trophy Ashes Cricket Australia Steve Smith
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Cricket,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0056I755XB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Australian cricket captain Steve Smith said that his team were looking forward to the Champions Trophy which begins next week in England.
Australia's opening match is against New Zealand on June 2 with hosts England along with Bangladesh also in their group.
India won the previous tournament in 2013, beating England in the final, and although bookmakers have the home side as favourites this time, Smith said that he is expecting a strong tournament.
"I think a lot of other teams are very good as well. South Africa have a world class team. India have a world class team. And a few others as well that in one-day, they can play some really good cricket too. It's a strong competition and one that we're really looking forward to now that we're here," said Smith, speaking in London on Wednesday (May 24).
The Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) is currently in a dispute with Cricket Australia (CA) after rejecting an offer that would end a 20-year-old revenue-sharing model when the next collective bargaining agreement starts in July.
The proposal offers more money than the current five-year CBA but allows only international players to share in surplus revenues, while domestic cricketers would have to settle for fixed amounts.
CA CEO James Sutherland raised tensions earlier this month when he told players to agree to terms by the June 30 deadline or risk being unemployed.
It elicited a heated response from the Australian Cricketers' Association, the players' union, and opening batsman David Warner warned the board it might not have a team for the five-test Ashes series starting in November.
"Of course we want to play in the Ashes, and of course we want everything to go really well there. It's just about making sure the guys finalise a deal and get the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) sorted, and then everything will be fine," said Smith. "There's certainly nothing from us where we don't want to play. We certainly want to be playing in the Ashes. Hopefully, they'll get things resolved soon, and everything will be back to normal." - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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