The game of cricket in England has been engulfed since the outbreak of the coronavirus leaving many questioning the future of the sport.

With the ECB in dire straits financially, the future of the game, and what tours England may be limited to in the near future are currently uncertain.

England cricket stars have made an ‘initial donation’ of £500,000 to the England Cricket Board (ECB) to help aid the financial crisis the sport has come across in England, following the coronavirus outbreak.

England and Wales Cricket Board have said that chief executive Tom Harrison has volunteered to take a 25% pay cut, also to help aid the ECB.

Tuesday saw Harrison unveil the ECB's £61 million aid package in response to the spread of COVID-19, which has seen the start of the English season delayed until May 28. Question marks have also been placed over the future of lucrative incoming tours by the West Indies, Pakistan and Australia.

With the ECB placing some administrative staff on the British government's reduced pay job retention furlough scheme, questions were raised over whether the likes of Test captain Joe Root and all-rounder Ben Stokes should accept a salary reduction as well.

Currently, the two earn close to a £1 million a year from the ECB as a star performer in red and white-ball cricket.

In a public statement issued on behalf of England’s Player Partnership Group by the PCA yesterday, it was said that:

"Following a meeting today of all of the England men's centrally contracted cricketers, the players have agreed to make an initial donation of £0.5million to the ECB and to selected good causes."

"The precise details of the charitable donation will be decided over the next week by the players."
The statement added the contribution was the "equivalent of all of the England centrally contracted players taking a 20% reduction in their monthly retainers for the next three months".

Despite earning a considerable amount less than their male counterparts England women’s centrally contracted players have also agreed to take a pay cut.

Like the men’s team, the women’s team have also agreed to reduce their contract by 20%.

World cup winning captain, Eoin Morgan, was asked on Wednesday if he would accept a pay cut, and he replied saying: "I'm extremely willing to help where I know it will make a difference, I'm open to absolutely everything."

In line with their teams, both coaches and support staff for both women and men’s teams, have agreed to reduce their contracts to help the ECB.