Ashes boycott looms as Australia's cricketers hit back

The provocative email, from James Sutherland, came after no progress was made in negotiations on Thursday and Peter Handscomb's comments to Fairfax Media this week in which the Test batsmen said all players should be treated equally.

Tension between CA and its players showed no signs of abating on Saturday night and Sunday morning, as some of Australia's biggest name cricketers, past and present, took to social media.

And the players union added its voice to the public campaign, accusing Cricket Australia of "incoherence and aggression".

Mitchell Starc was quick to make the point that the Ashes could be affected if the issue is not resolved before this summer.

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was similarly bullish, and former England Test cricketer Kevin Pietersen was even more explicit in his tweet, saying a strike was imminent.

More past and present players added their voices to the #fairshare campaign on social media, with Ashes hero Mitchell Johnson, fellow fast bowler Pat Cummins and former Australian all-rounder Lisa Sthalekar all speaking out.

Couldn't agree more #fairshare https://t.co/Nrd9pwescQ??? Trent Copeland (@copes9) May 13, 2017

The players' public stance came as Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive Alistair Nicholson accused CA of "incoherence and aggression".

"Clearly, we are disappointed that CA are threatening the players," he said.

"It's also a window into the nature of CA's behaviour in these negotiations so far. There is incoherence and aggression in what we have experienced at the negotiating table from CA.

"This has further been demonstrated this week with some top players being offered multi-years deals one day only to now be threatened the next.

"However, despite these threats, the players affirm their offer to participate in independent mediation."

It's understood CA believes the ACA did not agree to a mediation protocol in November, so a mediation clause is not available in these discussions. CA is also of the opinion that mediation is only called when negotiations break down. In this case, discussions between the two warring parties have not opened.

Nicholson claimed CA was determined to "drive a wedge" between the players.

"Quite simply, one side entered these negotiations in good faith with an intent to provide a win-win result, and the other is trying to remove player unity and drive a wedge in Australian cricket," he said.

"Further lighting the fuse on this dispute on the eve of the Ashes and during discussions with potential broadcasters and sponsors is quite baffling.

"The point lost on CA is that the players will not respond to threats, whilst broadcasters and sponsors need certainty.

"That's why we state again, for the good of the game, that it is time to sit down in mediation rather than make unnecessary threats and create such uncertainty."

The ACA sent a letter to members saying that it would be attempting to resolve the issues with Cricket Australia through mediation, striking a more conciliatory tone than Sutherland.

"And so here we are, seven weeks from the end of the current MOU [memorandum of understanding] and we have been forced to an unhappy conclusion: that for all the posturing Cricket Australia do not want to deal on any terms except their own. And we are all left wondering whether 30 June is CA's real deadline," wrote ACA president Greg Dyer.

"We are hopeful without being confident that a mediation process will be able to break through where the negotiation has not," the letter reads, before adding that the "challenge" will be dealing with "more of the same": an "irrational" response from CA.

Steve Smith's team must take part in next month's Champions Trophy in England because this tournament falls under the current MOU. The women's World Cup in July will also go ahead, with the ACA to recommend players sign and play in a "sign of good faith". CA has said it will pay the Southern Stars up front before the tournament begins.

But the first real test of the resolve of the governing body and the players is likely to be the little known Australia A tour of South Africa in July and August. CA has announced former Test stars Jason Gillespie, Brad Haddin and Chris Rogers will head up the coaching team - but a squad has yet to be announced. Players could take a stand and boycott this series if pay talks continue to stall. CA could also decide to "lock" the players out of the tour.

"We take this timing seriously. The 2017 women's World Cup will be mid-tournament on June 30. As a sign of good faith, we are going to recommend that the selected squad members sign a tournament contract to allow them to compete and excel at this event. But this should not be seen as a lack of resolve by the female players, who want to share, for the first time, in the 20-year revenue share model," Dyer wrote.

CA board director Mark Taylor claimed the ACA did not want to negotiate a new deal and suggested not all players supported this move.

"I am not surprised James has done what he has done. Things haven't gone anywhere for months now and I know ... CA feel the ACA aren't negotiating at all. Cricket Australia want to change the MOU and get away from what they call the revenue-sharing model although the one thing we are offering to the players is still revenue sharing to a certain extent," he told Channel Nine on Sunday.

"No one is worse off, women are going to be very well paid under the new model but, right from the word go, the ACA, I am not so sure the players, have not wanted to engage at all on this deal that is being offered."

Taylor was Australian captain when the ACA brokered the first MOU and revenue-sharing model with what was then the Australian Cricket Board in 1997. Under his leadership, the players almost boycotted a series of one-day matches in that turbulent summer. Now on the other side of the fence, he supports CA's new proposal.

He also revealed players had suggested earlier this year they could strike.

"I had players say to me in January of this year that we could well be on strike by July. This is before this MOU was presented," he said.

A CA spokesman said on Sunday: "CA is ready and willing to negotiate with the ACA".

Australia's next Test series is against Bangladesh in August.