Australian captain Steve Smith has sent a very clear message that he's standing by his players in their pursuit of contracts with an improved revenue sharing model.
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With Smith and his teammates now technically unemployed as a contract dispute with Cricket Australia rages on, the skipper has broken his silence on the matter and didn't pull any punches.
As Australian players look to secure improved contracts that puts state and female cricketers in a better financial position moving forward, Smith is clearly not willing to back down.
"I’ll say what we as players have been saying for some time now: we are not giving up the revenue sharing model for all players," Smith wrote in an Instagram post.
"But, through the ACA we are willing to make important changes to modernise the existing model for the good of the game.
"We are and have always been willing to make those changes.
"Changes for how the model can be adapted for the even greater benefit of grass roots cricket, which is after all where we all started."
With negotiations currently at a crossroads, it's clear Smith is personally invested in securing an improved deal for all Australian cricketers.
"I know from my career that when I was dropped in 2011 if I didn’t have a strong domestic competition to go back to, I certainly wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in today," he wrote.
"State players need to be taken care of financially so the domestic competition will always be strong which in turn keeps us strong at the International level.
"Also as Women’s cricket gets bigger and bigger in Australia women players must also be able to share in what they will be earning.
"They must have the same chances and incentives to grow the game as the men have had since revenue sharing started.
"And I know I speak for all of the men that we want women cricketers in the one deal with the men as well.
"It’s time to get a deal done. It should be and can be an exciting time for the game.”
