Pat Cummins commands Australian cricket’s highest income at $3 million annually from Cricket Australia contracts, IPL earnings with Sunrisers Hyderabad, and endorsement deals. The World Cup-winning captain leads 23 centrally contracted players averaging $951,000 base salary before match fees.
Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head earn $2-2.5 million combining CA retainers with IPL franchises paying ₹14-18 crore per season. Cricket Australia’s generous contracts dwarf most international boards while IPL, BBL, and franchise leagues add millions for elite performers.
Discover detailed player biography and net worth profiles for Australia’s cricket stars.
| Player Name | Position |
| Usman Khawaja | Opening Batter |
| Marnus Labuschagne | Opening Batter / Batter |
| Cameron Green | Top-order Batter / All-rounder |
| Steve Smith | Top-order Batter |
| Travis Head | Middle-order Batter |
| Beau Webster | All-rounder |
| Alex Carey | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Pat Cummins | Fast Bowler (Captain) |
| Mitchell Starc | Fast Bowler |
| Nathan Lyon | Off-spin Bowler |
| Josh Hazlewood | Fast Bowler |
| Glenn Maxwell | All-rounder |
| Mitchell Marsh | All-rounder |
| Josh Inglis | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Adam Zampa | Leg-spin Bowler |
| Matt Short | All-rounder |
| Nathan Ellis | Fast Bowler |
| Sam Konstas | Batter |
| Matthew Kuhnemann | Left-arm Spin Bowler |
| Xavier Bartlett | Fast Bowler |
| Daniel Sams | Left-arm fast-medium bowler (All-rounder) |
| Mitchell Swepson | Right-arm leg-spin bowler |
| Sean Abbott | Right-arm fast-medium bowler (All-rounder) |
| Jason Gillespie | Right-arm fast bowler |
| Bailey Ferguson | All-rounder (Batsman/Bowler) |
| Travis Head | Left-handed batsman |
| Matthew Wade | Left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman |
| Shaun Tait | Right-arm fast bowler |
| Jeffrey Thomson | Right-arm fast bowler |
| Aaron Finch | Right-handed opening batsman |
Top 10 Highest-Paid Australia Cricketers
World Cup glory elevated Australia’s commercial value with top players commanding premium BBL and IPL contracts alongside generous CA retainers. Cummins’ leadership bonus supplements his already lucrative multi-format deal.
| Player | Role | CA Contract | IPL 2025 Salary | BBL Salary | Total Annual Earnings |
| Pat Cummins | Fast bowler (c) | $1.1M | ₹18 crore ($2.16M) | $420K (Sydney Thunder) | $3.7M+ |
| Steve Smith | Batsman | $1M | ₹17 crore ($2.04M) | $420K (Sydney Sixers) | $3.5M+ |
| Mitchell Starc | Fast bowler | $1.1M | ₹11.75 crore ($1.4M) | $420K (Sydney Sixers) | $2.9M+ |
| Travis Head | Batsman | $950K | ₹14 crore ($1.68M) | $420K (Adelaide Strikers) | $3M+ |
| Glenn Maxwell | All-rounder | $900K | ₹4.25 crore ($510K) | $420K (Melbourne Stars) | $1.8M+ |
| Josh Hazlewood | Fast bowler | $1M | – | $420K (Sydney Sixers) | $1.4M+ |
| David Warner (retired T20I) | Batsman | – | ₹3.25 crore ($390K) | $420K (Sydney Thunder) | $810K+ |
| Mitchell Marsh | All-rounder (c T20I) | $900K | – | $420K (Perth Scorchers) | $1.3M+ |
| Marnus Labuschagne | Batsman | $900K | – | $420K (Brisbane Heat) | $1.3M+ |
| Nathan Lyon | Off-spinner | $1.1M | – | $300K (Perth Scorchers) | $1.4M+ |
Cummins’ $3.7 million total combines $1.1 million CA contract, ₹18 crore IPL retention, $420,000 BBL maximum salary, and $800,000 endorsements with Asics, Gatorade, and Commonwealth Bank. His World Cup-winning captaincy secured premium commercial partnerships unavailable to non-leaders.
Smith’s Sydney Sixers BBL deal pays $420,000 despite limited availability due to international commitments. The former captain maintains elite earning status through consistent multi-format selection justifying top-tier CA contracts.
Richest Australia Cricketers by Net Worth
Decade-long IPL participation transformed Australia’s elite into cricket’s wealthiest cohort. Smith and Warner accumulated fortunes exceeding $20 million through strategic franchise commitments and consistent CA earnings.
| Player | Role | Estimated Net Worth | Age | Primary Wealth Source |
| Pat Cummins | Fast bowler | $41M (₹378Cr) | 32 | IPL + CA contracts + Endorsements |
| Steve Smith | Batsman | $35M (₹291Cr) | 36 | IPL + CA 15-year career |
| David Warner | Batsman | $25M (₹208Cr) | 39 | IPL + BBL + CA contracts |
| Mitchell Starc | Fast bowler | $22M (₹183Cr) | 35 | IPL + CA multi-format deals |
| Glenn Maxwell | All-rounder | $18M (₹150Cr) | 37 | IPL + BBL + multi-league |
Cummins built $41 million through IPL earnings totaling ₹95 crore across seven seasons (KKR ₹15.5Cr 2018-21, SRH ₹18Cr 2024-25), CA contracts averaging $1 million annually since 2017, and $3 million yearly endorsements. His real estate portfolio includes $12 million Sydney properties generating passive income.
Smith accumulated $35 million entirely through cricket with IPL career earnings exceeding ₹110 crore across 13 seasons (RR, RPS, DC, SRH). His $1 million annual CA salary since 2010 generated $15 million before leadership ban reduced earnings temporarily 2018-19.
Warner’s $25 million stems from IPL’s longest Australian tenure earning ₹84.13 crore across 15 seasons with Delhi and Sunrisers. His BBL contracts totaling $6 million since 2011 supplement CA earnings exceeding $12 million career total before T20I retirement.
Cricket Australia Central Contract Structure
CA operates cricket’s second-highest paying board system after BCCI with 23 contracted players sharing revenue percentage model. Male cricketers average $951,000 annually before match fees under 2023-26 MOU agreement.
CA 2025-26 Contract List (23 players): Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Usman Khawaja, Adam Zampa, Josh Inglis, Scott Boland, Xavier Bartlett, Matt Short, Nathan Ellis, Jhye Richardson, Lance Morris, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Beau Webster.
Contract Payment Structure: Base retainer $700,000-$1.1 million depending on formats played and seniority, Test match fee $20,000 per game, ODI fee $15,000 per match, T20I fee $10,000 per appearance.
Performance Bonuses: Ashes series win – $100,000-$200,000 per player, World Cup victory – $250,000-$500,000 squad distribution, Test Championship final win – $150,000-$300,000.
Pakistan’s PCB maximum contract pays $194,400 annually versus Australia’s $1.1 million top tier. England’s ECB averages £700,000 ($880,000) compared to CA’s $951,000, demonstrating Australia’s competitive international positioning.
IPL and Franchise League Earnings
Australian cricketers dominate IPL auction prices with Cummins, Smith, Starc, and Head commanding ₹11-18 crore retentions reflecting championship-winning pedigree. BBL’s $420,000 maximum salary increased 110% from $200,000 in 2023 competing with overseas T20 leagues.
Australia Players in IPL 2025: Pat Cummins (SRH – ₹18Cr), Steve Smith (not retained), Mitchell Starc (KKR – ₹11.75Cr), Travis Head (SRH – ₹14Cr), Glenn Maxwell (PBKS – ₹4.25Cr), Nathan Ellis (PBKS – ₹2Cr), Spencer Johnson (RCB – ₹10Cr).
BBL Maximum Contracts: Top tier pays $420,000 for 10-match season compared to IPL’s ₹18 crore for 17 matches, creating 7x earning differential driving overseas league prioritization.
Other T20 Leagues: The Hundred (£125,000 max), SA20 ($175,000), ILT20 ($450,000), CPL ($140,000) provide off-season income totaling $500,000-$1 million for multi-league participants.
Australian players earned ₹165 crore combined from IPL 2025 across seven contracted cricketers. BBL contracts distributed $12.6 million across 30 maximum-salary players with international stars dominating top tier.
Tournament Bonuses and Incentive Structures
CA implements performance-based bonuses rewarding championship success and bilateral series victories. World Cup 2023 triumph distributed estimated $500,000 per squad member beyond base contracts.
ICC Tournament Bonuses: T20 World Cup victory – $400,000-$600,000 per player, ODI World Cup win – $500,000-$800,000 squad share, Test Championship final victory – $300,000-$500,000.
Ashes Performance: Series victory bonuses – $150,000-$250,000 per player for home/away wins, individual performance incentives – $50,000-$100,000 for Player of Series awards.
Bilateral Series: Overseas series wins vs India – $50,000-$100,000 bonuses, home summer victories – $30,000-$75,000, whitewash achievements – $100,000-$150,000.
Individual Milestones: Test centuries – $25,000, five-wicket hauls – $25,000, Player of Match awards – $10,000-$15,000.
IPL playoff bonuses add ₹10-25 lakh per match for SRH and KKR players. Cummins’ 2024 IPL title earned estimated ₹2 crore playoff bonuses beyond ₹18 crore base salary.
FAQs
Who is Australia’s highest-paid cricketer?
Pat Cummins earns $3.7 million annually combining $1.1 million Cricket Australia contract, ₹18 crore IPL salary with Sunrisers Hyderabad, $420,000 BBL deal with Sydney Thunder, and $800,000 endorsements. His $41 million net worth leads all Australian cricketers.
How much does Cricket Australia pay contracted players?
CA pays 23 centrally contracted players averaging $951,000 annually before match fees. Top-tier multi-format players earn $1-1.1 million base salary while format specialists receive $700,000-$900,000 depending on selection frequency and seniority.
Which Australian cricketers are in IPL 2025?
Seven Australians secured IPL 2025 contracts: Pat Cummins (SRH – ₹18Cr), Travis Head (SRH – ₹14Cr), Mitchell Starc (KKR – ₹11.75Cr), Spencer Johnson (RCB – ₹10Cr), Glenn Maxwell (PBKS – ₹4.25Cr), Nathan Ellis (PBKS – ₹2Cr), Tim David (MI – ₹3Cr). Combined earnings total ₹63 crore.
What is Steve Smith’s total net worth in 2025?
Steve Smith’s net worth stands at $35 million (₹291 crore) accumulated through 13 IPL seasons earning ₹110 crore total, 15-year CA contracts generating $15 million, BBL deals worth $6 million, and endorsements with New Balance, Tag Heuer, and Sanitarium totaling $8 million career earnings.
How does Australia’s cricket pay compare to other sports?
CA’s $951,000 average contract exceeds AFL’s $420,000 and NRL’s $380,000 average salaries. Elite Australian cricketers earning $3-3.7 million annually surpass most domestic athletes, with only top AFL/NRL stars commanding similar figures through base salary and endorsements combined.
