NSW becomes first Australian fully professional women's team

New South Wales' cricketers, on Thursday (October 6), have become the first fully professional Australian women's domestic unit, thanks to a major sponsorship deal from LendLease.

The squad members will now be on full-time contracts, earning a minimum wage of $35,000. Also, along with their national contracts and the WBBL, some of the international players will even be having the potential of earning more than $100,000 a year. The contracted Australian women cricketers earn a minimum of $80,000 plus match fees.

"This truly is a landmark moment," Cricket NSW CEO Andrew Jones said. "Cricket NSW has always been a leader in women's sport and today we are proud to announce another first.

"Every member of the Lendlease Breakers squad now has the opportunity to pursue a professional sporting career. I am confident that every state in Australia will now follow the lead of Cricket NSW by giving their female cricketers the opportunity to earn a living wage.

"Cricket NSW is committed to growing and professionalising women's cricket by attracting and retaining the best athletes, providing world-class facilities, coaching and support staff, and offering all of our athletes a professional pathway."

Alyssa Healy, the national side's wicketkeeper, lauded the move and was quoted saying by ABC News: "It enables the girls in our squad that flexibility to train more often. That is going to only make us more successful in our competition. Hopefully we can see some of the other teams follow.

"When I started out I was playing for Australia, attending university and also working. So, to cut out that requirement and be able to focus solely on sport is a fantastic opportunity. Some players may work part time or study part time but it gives them that flexibility now."

The move follows Cricket Australia increasing player payments in April following the World Twenty20, for both domestic and international players, from $2.36 million to $4.23 million.

"Cricket has always been my passion, however I never really thought that I would be able to play professionally," Ashleigh Gardner, the NSW batter, said after the announcement. "In the back of my mind I was always having to consider how I needed to juggle school work, studies, one day having a job and a family, with my training and matches.

"To know now that I don't need to worry about juggling all of this at once, and can really commit to my training and play professionally is incredible."

NSW international contracted players: Alex Blackwell, Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy, Rene Farrell and Lauren Cheatle

NSW state contracted players: Rachael Haynes, Naomi Stalenberg, Ash Gardner, Sarah Aley, Maisy Gibson, Lauren Smith, Stef Daffara, Nicola Carey and Belinda Vakarewa.