Some consider those figures rather limiting when compared to the leading UK English Premier League soccer players, then there's the top golfers and the tennis super stars, the list goes on and on.
The public surprise has been the initial lack of value some of the Indian Premier League cricketers that have been paid for their services. Perhaps paying $500,000 for a cricketer (the prices have been steadily coming down since the IPL inception three years ago) is in the third or fourth league value behind motor racing drivers, the top AFL, Rugby League and Rugby players.
Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson, a Baptist minister and cricket chaplain, who was the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years to 2000, moving side ways to 'Life After Cricket' from 2001 and in 2007 initiated Cricket Family Respite says that all these figures that get bandied about lack the one true value.
M V Tronson says that these professional sportsmen and women have 'greatly underestimated' their true value. Recently, he was reminded of one of his 'Chaplain's Chat' article for the Retired Australian Cricketers Bi-Annual Newsletter where he 'discovered' their true value.
This bi-annual newsletter editorial team of Allan Border (Qld), David Boon (TAS), Greg Chappell (SA), Kim Hughes (WA), Phil Emery (NSW), Jason Bakker and Shaun Graf (VCA) is now in its tenth year, and its 20th edition. It has a life of its own developed over ten years of Life After Cricket ministry. (That in itself is a value).
This cricketers newsletter is distributed by each of the State Cricket Associations to their retired Australian cricketers along with current Australian cricketers. Although initiated in November 2000 it had its origins in 1998 when M V Tronson and Reverend Barrie Sutton the then Victorian chaplain met first with the Australian Cricket Board followed by the Australian Cricketers Association.
M V Tronson points out that in Christian teaching the true value of a professional athlete has nothing to do with monetary amounts or sports skills, rather that the God of the Universe in the person of Jesus Christ died for them on the Cross of Calvary.
He went on to explain that this makes their true value 'immeasurable' and it's not based on anything they have achieved in sports, rather it is that Jesus Christ Himself took their sin upon Himself and died in their place.
The wonderful news is that Jesus Christ rose again to defeat both death and sin. More so, he/she who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. It applies to any top athlete whether they are a motor racing driver, a soccer player, a cricketer, a golfer, whomever.
M V Tronson noted with joy that bit also applies to him and every other person regardless of their station in life. .
This he says offers purpose to life and gives meaning now and forever.
"How special is this," M V Tronson exclaimed, "That the God of the Universe in His Spirit within my life is right here helping me along life's journey (regardless of the circumstances) and yes, on into eternity."