England’s cricket board (ECB) has announced that, from 2025, men and women in professional domestic cricket will receive equal starting salaries. This landmark decision, revealed on Tuesday, will apply to both 'Rookie' and 'Senior Pro' players, with the 'Rookie' level being introduced into the women’s game for the first time. The 'Rookie' contracts will serve as an entry point for players signing their first professional deals, while 'Senior Pro' applies to more established players in the first teams.
The move has been approved by the ECB's Professional Game Committee (PGC), which includes representatives from First-Class Counties (FCCs), the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), and the ECB. It is part of a broader restructuring of women’s professional cricket, following the ECB’s announcement of aligning the men's and women's professional white-ball competitions from next season.
In the revamped domestic women’s structure for next year, the eight FCCs with tier-one status will have to maintain a minimum squad size of 15 contracted players. These teams will also be subject to a salary cap of £800,000 per year and must invest at least £500,000 in player salary costs for 2025.
The ECB also revealed exciting plans for the women's domestic competitions. The inaugural T20 Blast Women’s Finals Day will take place at The Oval on July 27, 2025, while the first One Day Cup Women’s Final will be held at the Utilita Bowl on September 21, 2025.
