Jun 30th, 2017

Jun 30th, 2017

Hopes of a last-minute ceasefire that could prevent hundreds of Australian cricketers from becoming unemployed are all but extinguished.

The current Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) expires at midnight on Friday.

There is no prospect of a new MoU being finalised soon.

The two parties remain deadlocked over the issue of revenue sharing and negotiations have stalled for months.

A temporary solution could potentially be more palatable for CA and ACA, while saving the sport a degree of ignominy in the eyes of many fans left bewildered by the lack of progress in the saga.

But it would require both sides to sit down and talk, something that is yet to happen this week and still appears highly unlikely.

The next major development is instead expected to occur on Sunday, when ACA's board and executive will hold an unprecedented meeting in Sydney.

Players will discuss their next steps in the bitter stalemate.

The ACA has released a video featuring fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who re-iterates the players wish to keep domestic players as part of the revenue share model.

"The guys in the Australian cricket team, we all went through that pathway of state cricket. We obviously see that as hugely important to keep that as strong as we can moving forward," he said.

"A lot of people think it's the strongest domestic competition in the world."

ACA player liaison manager Simon Katich knows modern-day stars risk incurring the fury of fans.

"It's a shame it has to go down that path because the players are Cricket Australia's biggest assets," former Test opener Katich told Fox Sports.

"It's a shame they are putting them in this position. What sort of employer does that to their employees?"

This summer's Ashes will be at threat if the situation is not advanced before November, a point that vice-captain David Warner has repeatedly made in interviews during recent months.

CA has paid the women's World Cup squad in advance for the entire tournament.

It means the most pressing series at risk is next month's Australia A tour of South Africa, with players set to assemble in Brisbane for training on Monday.

CA could hand out-of-contract stars like Glenn Maxwell and Usman Khawaja tour contracts that would ensure their participation in that series.

The other extreme would be a boycott of the trip altogether, unprecedented action that would require every player on multi-year state deals to strike.

"They're being put in a situation where they're trying to test the group and see if they can split the group," Katich said.

"There's been some speculation about the group being divided ... I've got it on pretty good evidence that's not the case."

CA and ACA are yet to discuss what to do about the South Africa trip in detail. The union has made it clear it would like to see some progress in talks before agreeing to temporary measures.

ACA remain adamant CA boss James Sutherland should enter emergency mediation and take charge of the spat.

Sutherland returned to CA's Jolimont office on Thursday, having recently visited England for International Cricket Council meetings.

It's understood he spoke with CA's negotiation team and reaffirmed to Kevin Roberts that he is in no danger of losing the title of lead negotiator.

Roberts has adopted a hardline stance in his dealings with the ACA, rubbing many players the wrong way.

CA submitted a rejigged offer last Friday that was rejected later that day. The governing body wants to discuss that offer in formal talks with the union.