Australia 's domestic female cricketers have received a pay rise, with Cricket Australia investing an extra $1.2m (£650,000) into the women's game.
The new investment will provide cricketers with higher base pay, with $800,000 (£434,000) going towards WNCL retainers and $400,000 (£217,000) going to WBBL retainers.
The average retainer in the WNCL will rise by 22 per cent, while the WBBL's average retainer will increase by 14 per cent.
Cricket Australia's CEO Nick Hockley called the move an "incredibly important step in driving gender equity" and that they "won't rest until there is genuine parity".
He said: "The pipeline of talent coming through is fantastic and we want to keep striving to make it a really attractive and credible full-time professional career for our up-and-coming female cricketers.
"This is another incredibly important step in driving gender equity in our game.
"Our players have made enormous sacrifices the last 18 months and we are extremely proud to have been able to work alongside the ACA (Australian Cricketers' Association) to provide a $1.2 million increase in retainers for the WBBL and the WNCL.
"We will continue to advocate for equality in the men's and women's game in everything we do and in all facets of the game.
"We won't rest until there is genuine parity across all elements of the game."
Australia captain Meg Lanning welcomed the news, stating that the national team's success has been helped by increased investment in the women's game.
"The success and prominence of women’s cricket in Australia has not happened by accident," she said.
"Cricket has shown that when you properly invest in female sport, the results follow and everyone benefits – the game, the fans and the players."
ACA chief Todd Greenberg said the funds will be "fundamental" to the growth of women's cricket.
"Cricket continues to lead other sports in Australia, and indeed internationally – and this is largely because of the continued investment in the game that drives professionalism," he said.
"Investment in women’s cricket is fundamental to the growth of the game overall, and we see this as part of an ongoing strategy of continuing to raise the bar for others to follow."
