In a move that might completely change how international cricket is played, Indian Premier League franchises are reportedly approaching Australian cricketers with multi-club deals for AU$ 7.5 million.
IPL conglomerates, who have acquired T20 franchises worldwide, are actively courting Australia's senior cricketers, according to The Age, with rich offers to play in several competitions.
The finest cricketers in the world may soon depend more on clubs than on their countries as their main source of revenue, signalling a massive change in the game's environment.
The Trinbago Knight Riders of the CPL, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders of the ILT20, and the recently established Los Angeles Knight Riders of Major League Cricket are all owned by Red Chillies Entertainment, which also holds the majority share in the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The next stage of the IPL revolution will see Australian athletes, particularly those who are close to retiring, forego lucrative contracts with Cricket Australia in favour of 12-month contracts with Indian corporations where they would compete in various T20 events.
IPL franchises are keen to learn whether the Board of Control for Cricket will raise the competition's salary cap, offering a bigger incentive for international talent, after last year's staggering $9.5 billion television agreement.
Due to conflicting recruitment laws and the upcoming World Cups, Australian cricketers are unlikely to sign on in the next 12 to 24 months, but these multi-tournament contracts have the potential to completely transform the world of cricket.
Australian captain Pat Cummins remarked last year, "These possibilities are significant and they are showing up more and more frequently."
Because these issues will continue to arise, I believe it is up to us as a sport in Australia to ensure that we have a really clear vision for what Australian cricket should look like in the next five to ten years.
How can we handle all these different competing interests in order to try and maintain Australian cricket as the best?
International cricket is still the most popular sport for people to play for their country right now, especially in Australia, but we shouldn't take it for granted.
"We have to make sure that it stays that way, and that includes scheduling, compensation, and a clear understanding of what it means to be an Australian cricket player," said the speaker.
Up to 24 men's players are eligible to be contracted under a new five-year Agreement that was agreed last week between CA and the Australian Cricketers' Association.
The average yearly value of a CA men's contract has risen to $951,000 plus match rewards, and it is anticipated that this amount would surpass $1 million in 2027–2028. But, it could be difficult to resist the allure of 12-month contracts with IPL franchises earning up to $7.5 million.
Warner admitted earlier this year that he was "a little bit terrified" of where cricket is likely to go in the next five to ten years.
"Playing red ball and Test cricket is the legacy you should want to leave behind, so I'd love for the young boys to do that. It's incredible to play in a Test match because it truly tests your cricket skills and how you compare to the game's all-time greats.
The bottom line is that everything has a financial benefit. You will be rewarded if you strive to land a central contract. With all the leagues and other things going on, I believe guys just think about the short term right now.
Making a name for yourself is the best method to maximise the value of your money. Only a small percentage of people have been able to do that and have a successful career. You're only going to get there by putting numbers on the board if you want to play cricket for Australia.
The cricket governing bodies of Australia, England, and India are in a strong position to hold on to their top players, but other Test-playing nations are not as fortunate.
Trent Boult and Martin Guptill, two prominent New Zealand cricketers, were released from their national contracts last year as part of a historic agreement to concentrate on T20 franchise cricket. As Boult played for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, the Black Caps recently competed in a multi-format match against Sri Lanka at home.
Ben Stokes, a star player for England, departed from one-day international cricket last year in order to concentrate on other formats. He is presently playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, but will not be present at this year's World Cup in India.
According to Cummins, who spoke to News Corp last year, "I think realistically more and more individuals are going to go down that route for a variety of reasons, so I think we have to be cognizant of that."
In some cases, it's preferable to have your Australian players compete in prestigious events even if it means skipping a format.
"How it exactly plays out, I don't know, but I think you'll see a lot more flexibility around that over the years.
We all prioritise playing for Australia right now since it's what we passionately adore doing, but in reality, there are many other possibilities available that occasionally conflict.
To ensure CA retains top players for the T20 tournament, which may now pay up to $420,000 yearly, the Big Bash League's annual Total Payment Pool has increased from $2 million to $3 million per side as part of the new MOU.
As South Africa's SA20 league threatened to lure players last summer, Adelaide Strikers powerhouse Chris Lynn left the competition early to make a guest appearance in the ILT20.
Young all-rounder Cameron Green was allowed to participate in the IPL Auction despite worries about workload management prior to the Ashes, and the Mumbai Indians purchased the Australian for a cool $3.15 million.
Whatever the case, cricket appears headed for a significant shake-up over the next years, just like LIV Golf has altered the golfing landscape.
According to Australian player agent Neil Maxwell, "It's happening and it's coming soon."
"Players will soon ask their clubs for non-objection certificates because some have already signed comprehensive contracts with them.
The best Australian players, who have been consistently ranked among the best in the world for a number of years, will make roughly US$1.5 million from Australian cricket, playing continuously throughout the year to do so. The maths is flawed.