‘Overpaid prima donnas humbled by Bangladesh’

Sydney, August 31

Australia’s “overpaid prima donna” cricketers were shamed by their humbling first Test defeat to Bangladesh, Australian media said today, while saluting the historic achievement of the hosts. Lowly Bangladesh claimed their first-ever Test win over Australia in Dhaka yesterday.

Australia are currently ranked fourth to Bangladesh’s ninth in the ICC Test rankings. While applauding Bangladesh’s feat, Australia’s media focused on the huge financial disparity between the two sides.

Australia left for the Bangladesh tour after resolving a long and acrimonious pay row, in which the players walked away the winners. 

The Australian said Smith’s men were “humiliated” in an “inglorious outing” by players earning far inferior salaries.     “The hapless 11 who became the first Australian team to lose a Test to Bangladesh will be paid an average of Aus$1.36 million from Cricket Australia this financial year, or about Aus$26,000 a week,” it said.

“The team that humiliated them on a turning pitch are paid average salaries of just Aus$26,136, or about Aus$500 a week.” — AFP