They get paid more on top of that for the 20/20 competitions around the world too @MDT ...and more for playing county cricket in England in the off season... that is why many just concentrate of the 20/20 comptitions earlier rather than retiring from cricket altogether - the 20/20 comps around the world pay enormous amounts for some players.
I understand where you are coming from with sponsorship but I will give you an example: the Commonwealth Bank pours huge amounts of money into cricket - granted a lot of that is for grassroots competitions/kids as well as women's and men's comps - I have absolutely no inclination to even consider that organisation because they do that ...however if they poured the same amount of money into providing homes for the homeless, looking after our animals (such as giving to the RSPCA to keep them not only afloat but sustainable long term) then I would be much more aminable to considering that organisation for my own banking needs. A social conscience is more than a token gesture - and I believe larger corporations/businesses would benefit more by showing that in monetary concerns for many people. Their advertising for sporting groups actually puts me off even considering them - it is the type of exposure that annoys me because the same amount of money is not put into areas of life that really need it. It is much like the government - money allocated to enhance big business and those that supposedly have 'influence' whereas the ordinary, everyday person struggles. We want a more literate, educated, inclusive and forward thinking society however money is not spent where it is needed - the welfare and education of our kids or the health system ...such inequalites will never lead to greater equalisation in society nor will it touch the majority of our citizens with what is really needed.
