Australian cricketers yesterday unveiled plans to take back their own image rights, firing the latest salvo in an ongoing pay battle with the country's cricket board. It is the latest power play in an increasingly bitter stand-off between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association over a plan to scrap revenue-sharing.

With no end in sight to the impasse and the current deal expiring on June 30, the ACA disclosed plans to form a new business to help male and female players directly negotiate sponsorship deals.