Cricket: Big money for Black Caps if they win

The Black Caps will each pocket close to $350,000 if they win this year's Cricket World Cup.

That figure dwarfs the $100,000 bonus the All Blacks scooped for winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The Black Caps are considered an outside favourite for the tournament, which kicks off on February 13 with a total prize pool of almost $13m.

The winning team will receive a cool $4.79m, the runner up $2.24m, each losing semifinalist $766,000 and each losing quarter-finalist $383,000.

Every time a team wins a pool play game they will be paid $58,000.

In addition, each Black Caps player will get $3500 per game from New Zealand Cricket as part of its agreement with the Players' Association. That's on top of their salaries this year, which range from $195,000 for the top-ranked player to $80,000 for the bottom ranked.

It's believed captain Brendon McCullum is the top earner, followed by batsmen Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson and pace bowler Tim Southee.

Players' Association boss Heath Mills said players had only the games on their minds, despite the prize pot on offer.

"The prize money is not the overriding motivation for the guys at all," he said. "In fact, I haven't had a single guy ask me about it. Not one.

"Winning the World Cup would be a massive achievement for the team and that's all the motivation they need and it's all they're focused on at this point of time."

The prize is divided using a complicated structure.

If the Black Caps win all six pool play games but bow out in the semifinal they'll share $1.114m.

Should they go through pool play unbeaten then lose the final, the team will be paid $2.588m, $172,533 each.

A historic Black Caps tournament win, following an unbeaten run in pool play, will see the team earn $5.138m, $342,533 each.

The prize money goes to the 15 playing members of the squad but Mills said in previous years players had divided it 16 ways, to ensure coaching staff received a portion.

"We haven't had that discussion but I would imagine they'd be keen to do that."

The World Cup was the most lucrative event in any player's career in prize money.

"The prize money is significant but it's reflective of how much value there is in this tournament.

"There are significant commercial returns for the ICC and its member boards so it's only fair and right that the players share in that return."

The All Blacks were paid a $100,000 bonus from the New Zealand Rugby Union for winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup, on top of their $7500 weekly fee and retainers.

By Matthew Theunissen of the Herald on Sunday


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