England's centrally contracted players to donate £500,000 as part of coronavirus response

England’s women have also volunteered to reduce their salaries through April, May and June, in line with their coaches and support staff

England men’s centrally contracted players have made an initial donation of £500,000 to the ECB and selected good causes in light of the coronavirus crisis, a statement from the Professional Cricketers’ Association has announced.

The precise details of the charitable donations are to be decided over the next week by the players; the contribution is the equivalent of all of the players taking a 20 per cent reduction in their monthly retainers for the next three months.

The players will continue to discuss the ever-changing situation with the national governing body and will consider how best to support the cricketing and wider community.

England’s women have also volunteered to reduce their salaries through April, May and June, in line with their coaches and support staff.

Captain Heather Knight, who has also volunteered as part of the NHS volunteer scheme, said: “All the players felt like it was the right response in the current climate to take a pay cut in line with what our support staff are taking.

“We know how the current situation is affecting the game and we want to help as much as we can. We will be discussing with the ECB further ways we can help the game in the coming weeks.”

The news comes 48 hours after ECB chief executive Tom Harrison took a voluntary 25 per cent reduction in his salary for two months as part of the governing body’s attempts to lower central costs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measures came into effect from April 1, with the executive management team and board receiving a salary drop of 20 per cent, while measures are in place to consult with staff on reducing all employees' salaries for two months.

Proposed cuts will vary according to the employee’s job grade, with all other employees set to have their pay temporarily cut between 10 and 25 per cent.

Harrison is taking a voluntary two-month 25 per cent pay cut

Some staff are also being asked to consent to furloughing through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme put in place by the government, with the ECB supplementing their pay to ensure that they retain 100 per cent of their reduced salary.

All recruitment is also being frozen for the rest of 2020, with critical posts only filled in the event that an employee leaves the ECB.

“Cricket is facing the biggest challenge it has encountered in the modern era, and I am acutely aware of the hardships many across the cricket family are facing both on a personal and professional level,” Harrison said.

“We are working in partnership with the cricket community to establish how we lead cricket’s response to COVID-19.

“Our three guiding principles remain. Firstly, to ensure people’s safety, including everyone in the cricket family and our own ECB colleagues. Secondly, to protect cricket’s businesses, and the jobs of those who work within the game. And thirdly, to work in partnership through these unprecedented circumstances.”

Twenty-four hours earlier, the ECB moved to ease the financial burden on the domestic and recreational game by offering an emergency package worth £61 million to help the sport survive the coronavirus outbreak.

All levels of the game have been suspended amid a partial lockdown of the country, with the summer schedule set to be heavily affected.

While the ECB are putting together a fixture list in the event that cricket is able to return in the coming months, the governing body are conscious of the damage the delay or even complete cancellation of the campaign will do.

^{Heather Knight has signed up as part of the NHS volunteer scheme}

Therefore, funds are being made available to first-class counties and county cricket boards to help ease the burden during this difficult period - with more to come if the crisis continues.

Forty million pounds will be released immediately in the form of early partnership and facilities maintenance payments - an outlay which includes £1.3 million due from The Hundred. For those counties for whom these instalments are not due, £5.5 million will be made available.

Additionally, venues which were due to host international matches in 2020 will have another four months to fulfil the payments. They will be written off entirely if the matches are cancelled.

For the recreational game, around £20m is being provided by the ECB through an interest-free loan scheme and grants via the 'return to cricket' policy. Furthermore, there is a 12-month holiday for loan repayments.

Harrison added on Wednesday: “Yesterday, we rolled out an interim financial package which is fundamental to ensuring the short-term survival of the professional and recreational cricket network. Despite this, the financial situation remains challenging, so our support must be ongoing.

“Today, we have made a difficult but important announcement to cut central costs through a number of measures – all with a desire to protect jobs in the long-term and ensure we are better prepared to weather the storm ahead.

“I am extremely proud of the brilliant and passionate people who work at the ECB and their dedication during this crisis. But the challenge we are facing – not only in our sport but across the whole country – is exceptional and I know most organisations are having to make tough decisions.

“That being said, I am confident that through careful planning and by working together as a sport, we can get through this and see our wonderful sport and its communities thrive again in the very near future.”

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