This summer's Ashes are now seriously under threat from the pay war. Credit:Dallas Kilponen "Given past experience and the massive detail involved, this would take some time and still may not be completed with time enough to meet the needs of fans, sponsors and broadcasters invested in the upcoming tours and the summer of cricket," Nicholson said. CA officials were baffled by the ACA's move to declare talks had stalled on Friday. "It's a stunt," said one observer. That became "perplexing" on Saturday when Nicholson reinforced his union's stance. "I add that it is hard to conceive of any further flexibility the players could possibly offer in these negotiations," he said. This came amid claims from the ACA that CA had all but rejected a "terms sheet" of common-ground issues the two parties had built up over the past fortnight. CA has claimed the terms sheet was unsolicited and carries no weight in negotiations.

Australia's women cricketers, including Ellyse Perry, played the World Cup under special contracts. Credit:Getty Images CA had thought negotiations were progressing, if not well, but at least ... progressing. That CA had still delivered an agenda to the ACA on Friday ahead of Monday's resumption of talks at least showed the two warring parties were prepared to chat. Nicholson and CA counterpart James Sutherland had even been in contact via telephone and email on Friday. But a bomb was dropped at 5pm, soon after the ACA had held a two-hour board meeting. Enough was enough, the ACA said, all but declaring it felt the CA would not agree to the six-point solutions, including the revenue share model, the players had wanted to break the deadlock. The response since has been mixed. CA was flabbergasted. Some players are baffled at the lack of progress. One former long-time Sheffield Shield player, an original ACA foundation member, was moved to contact Fairfax Media and even warn that the union was "losing the rank and file membership support on this". It has since emerged that Sutherland and Nicholson would have what can only now be called a crisis meeting on Sunday. What should be of greater concern for two two parties is how the public will react. For some, it's of little consequence. Everyone has their own lives – and worries – to deal with. For many, player wages – and those of the CA executive – are seen as more than healthy, even exorbitant. But that's the market they are in, and market forces shape what they are paid. For others, the players taking a stand is a commendable act. Some will also side with CA.

If this saga drags on, and a Test series in Bangladesh is dumped, and the ensuing one-day series in India also falls, meaning the Ashes are in doubt, be warned - the public could turn off the sport for a long, long time. Jon Pierik on the potential fall-out of the pay dispute Until this point, the drama has been played out with overseas series at stake. The Southern Stars' World Cup campaign went ahead because the women did not fall under the current MOU (the blame game as to why they were not has also been a source of debate), and tour contracts were struck months ago. An Australia A tour of South Africa was scrapped but, for the public, it was of little consequence. Although some players, as told to Fairfax Media, were so shattered they were in tears, while two allegedly claimed they would have played for free. But if this saga drags on, and a Test series in Bangladesh is dumped, and the ensuing one-day series in India also falls, meaning the Ashes are in doubt, be warned – the public could turn off the sport for a long, long time. So, too, the lifeblood of the sport, sponsors and broadcasters. Remember, CA will soon go to market for a new international and domestic broadcast rights deal – how would that "sell" go if there is no on-field "product" this summer? It's this money that bankrolls the sport.

Players said on July 2 they could be sub-contracted through the ACA to play in the Ashes, but that now looks unlikely. Anyway, how would that work? How much preparation would they have? Against who? In terms of the wider picture, how would it look to their fellow brethren, presumably still unemployed, that the Test stars were able to compete in cricket's biggest series – and be paid – while they twiddle their thumbs. By that stage, there surely would be state-based players seeking help through the ACA's hardship fund. It's not just the Ashes that are at stake. The marquee domestic event of the summer, the growing beast that is the Big Bash League, is surely in doubt following Nicholson's email. The likes of Steve Smith, David Warner and Mitchell Starc, as we know, have little, or nothing, to do with the BBL because of their international commitments. But with only about 70 state-based current players with multi-year contracts (many in Western Australia), how could the BBL go ahead, even with overseas imports? That would be a disaster for CA, the states and players, although Channel Ten, fighting to keep its doors open, might be happy to take the $20 million back is still owes CA. It's difficult not to think mediation is now needed, for the philosophies of the two parties are at odds. Another option would be to agree to a 12-month interim deal, secure the new TV contracts, and then reopen negotiations. Cricket has a long history of boards and players turning on themselves over pay. This could yet be one of the ugliest.