Australia's beleaguered cricketers received some good news with the announcement they could be in line for a significant pay rise.

Ricky Ponting's side were bundled out of the World Twenty20 on Monday after losing to Sri Lanka, a defeat which followed on from a loss against West Indies.

Although the Twenty20 game is in stark contrast to Test cricket, their exit was hardly the preparation they wanted heading into the Ashes.

CA, ACA announce new deal

Despite the setback, Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) have announced a new deal which could see a player earn as much as 1.5 million Australian dollars this coming season.

The deal which covers the next two seasons - 2009-10 and 2010-11 - will see the total player payment pool (TPP) for international and state cricketers increased from the current $39.9 million per year to $96.2 million over the next two years despite the current economic climate.

This has been made possible for two reasons - firstly as a result of CA projecting its own revenue increase during that period - and secondly because of the players' annual share of CA's income rising from the current 25% to 26%.

But the most significant change is the way the 25 players who receive international contracts from Cricket Australia each year are paid and the manner the 25 players are ranked, which determines the pay scale.

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For the first time, fixed contracts will be introduced for players that are ranked in the top six in both Test and 50-over cricket - meaning these players will receive their entire agreed salary regardless of how many games they play.

In the past each player in CA's list of 25 contracted players received a base salary - according to their ranking - and then match payments on top of that.

As a result, the top-ranked player in CA's pay scale for next season - with the new contracts to begin on July 1 - is likely to make well in excess of $1 million.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said the new pay deal reflected the health of cricket generally in Australia.

"The only way we can afford to increase payments is because of an increase in our revenue projections," he said. "So we are delighted to be talking about the game in such optimistic terms."

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Sutherland said the players were only being paid what the game could afford.

"And in doing so Australian cricket maintains an appropriate balance between its investment in elite cricket and its investment in grassroots cricket."

However ACA chief executive Paul Marsh said players' contracts would no longer be assessed solely on their on-field worth but also their off-field marketing ability - which will be measured by what was described as 'a likeability rating' - with that ranking having the ability to lift players up or down the pay scale.

"A player's contract ranking will now be based about 80% on their on-field performance and 20% on their off-field marketing ranking," Marsh said.

Under the new deal the minimum contract for an international player - which will go to the 25th ranked player - is $190,000 for the 2009/10 season, up from $180,000 this season. This will rise to $210,000 in 2010/11.