Monday 20th March
Protection against the cost of cricket injuries
As one of the most lucrative cricket tournaments in women’s sports, the Women’s Premier League (WPL), launched this month, Kerry London highlights the importance of salary protection for women.
The US$572m competition in India is the latest in a series of new franchise women’s leagues, following the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) launch in Australia and the Women’s Hundred in England.
The WPL starts just six days after the Women’s T20 World Cup ends in South Africa and ends about a week before the Indian Premier League (IPL), the most lucrative cricket league globally. Players are increasingly participating in back-to-back tournaments for prolonged periods. As the number of professional women’s cricket tournaments grows, the risk of injuries among players grows too. Injuries impact sports participation, performance, short and long-term health, well-being, and they can be expensive.
Game-changing salaries
The salaries paid to England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt for £320,000 and spinner Sophie Ecclestone for £180,000 in the Women’s Premier League auction are a positive move for women’s cricket. Higher professional salaries for female cricketers that enables them to play cricket full-time also raises the profile and popularity of the women’s game. Mumbai Indians bought Sciver-Brunt for the joint-highest price for an overseas player. While the top professional female cricketers are now getting paid salaries that enable them to play full-time cricket without the added financial pressure of taking a second job, many are not.
Salary protection in the event of an injury
Temporary Total Disablement (TTD) insurance protects players’ salaries if they suffer a temporary injury or illness that would prevent them from participating in a tournament. TTD insurance is a tax-free financial benefit that covers loss of earnings when players can’t play because of an injury or illness before or during play. The cover is designed around each individual’s needs.
Kerry London’s team of sports specialists includes retired sports professionals with the knowledge to identify risks and arrange temporary total disablement insurance. TTD provides financial security should an injury happen at home or abroad.
How are female cricketers paid?
Protecting income is a priority for female cricketers, especially when signing a contract does not guarantee full payment in the event of an injury. Staggered fees can be structured as 50% at the start and 50% at the end of a tournament. Some follow the 15-65-20 payment structure, where players get 15% before a tournament, 65% during the tournament, and 20% at the end. If a player remains uninjured, they receive their fully contracted salary. When players are injured and unavailable for the entire season, their pay is often pro-rated, meaning they will lose valuable income.
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Kerry London is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The company is a leading UK independent and Lloyd’s accredited broker, which means that we work with a wide range of niche and major insurers.
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