In a landmark move, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that minimum starting salaries for men and women in domestic cricket will be equal from 2025. This development is part of a broader plan to revamp the women’s domestic structure and increase investment in women’s cricket.
The minimum salary for rookie players will now be £20,000, while senior pro players will earn at least £28,000. Eight first-class counties – Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey, and Warwickshire – will host Tier 1 teams from 2025, with Yorkshire joining in 2026 and Glamorgan in 2027.
Each Tier 1 county will have a minimum of 15 contracted players and must invest between £500,000 and £800,000 in player salary costs from 2025. This represents a significant increase from the current £250,000 regional salary cap, with average women’s pay previously standing at £25,000 per year. The ECB plans to increase investment in women’s domestic cricket to £19m per annum by 2027.
The ECB’s move follows the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s (ICEC) report highlighting widespread discrimination in English cricket.
