Australia’s women cricketers secured a huge pay increase on Monday.

The top contracted player is on course to earn more than A$1-million (R12-million) a year.

Payments for professional women will rise 66% under a new five-year deal between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association.

They will share in a pool worth A$133-million, up from A$80-million in the previous agreement, rewarding not only members of Australia’s world champion team but significantly increasing the value of Big Bash League and state contracts.

According to the deal, the top CA contract holder who also has a WBBL contract — believed to be national captain Meg Lanning – could now earn more than $800,000 a year.

That could break the A$1 million mark with further earnings in India’s Women’s Premier League and The Hundred in England.

The next six contracted players will earn an average A$500,000.

Those who do not play for Australia, but compete in the Women’s National Cricket League and WBBL, will be paid more than A$151,000 annually.

The deal will also see the number of CA men’s contracts increase from 17-20 to 20-24, recognising the number of players now selected across various formats.

The value of those contracts will increase 7.5% in the first year and 2% thereafter to an average A$951,000 plus match payments in 2023-24.

© Agence France-Presse