{
    "id": "10572",
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    "title": "Australian cricketers fund new club initiative",
    "lang": "en",
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    "cup_year": "2015",
    "article_type": "General",
    "excerpt": "Australia\u2019s top cricketers have dug deep into their pockets to fund a new initiative that will narrow the gap between club",
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    "editor1": "<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:16px;\"><span style=\"font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;\">Sydney, June 11 (IANS) Australia&rsquo;s top cricketers have dug deep into their pockets to fund a new initiative that will narrow the gap between club and first-class cricket.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:16px;\"><span style=\"font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;\">The &lsquo;Premier Cricket Program&rsquo; will support Australia&rsquo;s 87 Premier (Grade) Cricket clubs in utilising former or non-contracted domestic cricketers to either play, coach or mentor club sides.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:16px;\"><span style=\"font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;\">The unprecedented contribution of more than $1 million from Australia&rsquo;s elite players comes after an increase in estimated income during the 2012-17 Memorandum Of Understanding period, the same period that covers the current Cricket Australia media rights deal.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:16px;\"><span style=\"font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;\">Clubs can now apply for a $10,000 grant per year for three years to allow current Australian Cricketer&rsquo;s Association (ACA) Members (former and current first-class players) to continue to be involved in Premier Cricket.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:16px;\"><span style=\"font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;\">&quot;Every player who represents a State, Big Bash League or Australian team comes through the Premier Cricket system,&rdquo; Australia Test captain Michael Clarke was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Thursday.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:16px;\"><span style=\"font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;\">&ldquo;While for some of us the opportunities at the moment to play at club level are limited, having competitive and testing competitions influenced by experienced and knowledgeable players is vital.&quot;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:16px;\"><span style=\"font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;\">The decision to devote the surplus funds in the Player Payment Pool was a unanimous one by Australia&rsquo;s contracted players, with the Premier Cricket Program the first step in strengthening club cricket around the country.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:16px;\"><span style=\"font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;\">&quot;As current players, we&#39;re passionate about strengthening Premier Cricket and remember the influence that many former first-class players had on our careers as we came through,&rdquo; said Australia allrounder and ACA Executive member Shane Watson.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n",
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    "seo_title": "Australian cricketers fund new club initiative",
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    "created": "2015-06-12 03:08:00",
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