Former skipper Mark Taylor expects Australian players to endure major pay cut from their salaries, as the game suffers heavy losses because of its global suspension amid COVID-19 pandemic. 

As per local media reports down under, Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Kevin Roberts has told the board's staff to be ready for salary cut while the organisation doesn't see itself paying all its bills for a period until the end of August without layoffs. 

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Plans have been announced for almost 80% layoffs, putting the staff on 20% monthly pay till June 30. The board reckons the Australian government will be in better position by the end of June to tell whether the existing six-month lockdown period could be extended or not, signalling possibility of when the on-field play is resumable. 

Hence, with all the uncertainty, Taylor feels players will be "next in line" after the CA staff to have their pockets significantly affected. 

"There will be pay cuts, as we’ve seen from CA staff. Players will be next. I also suspect that Cricket Australia and the ACA (Australian Cricketers’ Association) have been working together on this," said Taylor on the Nine Network.

"I hope they get their heads together and sort out a good solution for the near future."

"Six months is a long time. It may not be long enough in this pandemic, but it might be long enough to get some cricket in October which may save Cricket Australia and the players from taking too big a pay cut," he added. 

"Nobody has a crystal ball to work out when and how much this will affect cricket."

The first sign of the likelihood of Australian players being affected by this phase came when the CA decided to postpone the announcement for the next round of central contracts. 

In another part of the world, England players have already volunteered 20 per cent pay cut for the next three months in order to safeguard the game's immediate future.