Cricket is in the box seat to become the first major Australian sport to achieve pay parity at a domestic level, after a landmark deal to significantly increase the earnings of female players.
Women emerged as the biggest winners in cricket's pay deal on Monday, with an extra $53 million in the player pool over the next five years and a pay rise of 66 per cent.
Those winnings will be felt most significantly at domestic level, where the average pay packet will sit at $151,000 for players with state and WBBL deals.
The majority of dual-format female players will also earn six figures for the first time, with minimum state contracts set at around $60,000 and the lowest-paid WBBL player on close to $20,000.
Match payments have also been brought in line with men's, with a touch over $2000 paid per day played, topping up the salaries to the biggest in women's sport.
The figures leave women's retainers in state contracts at 70 per cent of their male counterparts, with genuine belief parity can be reached in future deals.
"We're on a journey," Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said.
"We have seen an overall 26 per cent increase in player pay, but a 66 per cent increase in payments to our female players.
"We are on a path, we are not there yet. But we have taken a major step forward in closing the gap."
Both CA and the players' union will put a focus on trying to further commercialise the game, with a doubling of the WBBL salary cap to $732,000 aimed at keeping the best overseas talent.
"If we unlock commercialisation, that's the key," former Australian star Rachael Haynes said.
"If we do that, I think we will get parity.
"Enabling players more time to invest in themselves and their game, naturally that will help them get better."
Officials are also predicting multiple female players could crack the $1 million mark, when combining their national salaries, WBBL deals and overseas contracts.
While national contracts are well below their male counterparts, the top-earning female will now earn $800,000 combined from their Australian and WBBL deals, while the next six will average $500,000.
"I think we'll have a few of millionaires in the next few years," Australian Cricketers Association CEO Todd Greenberg said.
"And so they should because they're the best in the world at what they do."
