Ponting to earn close to four million dollars a year

Melbourne, May 6 (ANI): Australia cricket's top dogs Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke will be rewarded with a million-plus dollar contracts in the next fortnight.

They will also receive 12,750 dollars a Test, 5100 dollars for a one-day international and 3835 dollars for a Twenty20 International.

Ponting also has several lucrative advertising, television and newspaper deals, which are expected to take the income of the working-class boy from northern Tasmania to over four million dollars a year.

Several advertising deals ensure Clarke is not far off the pace.

Cricket Australia and its players closely guard the value of contracts and any increase in their pay deal under the latest memorandum of understanding is unclear.

The Australian Cricketers' Association has been in long negotiations with CA over the new memorandum. The talks have stalled several times due to the uncertainty caused by the global financial crisis.

Australia's top players appear to have little reason for complaint.

Cricket Australia is reluctant to greatly increase the payments pool in light of world businesses tightening their belts.

Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, a former Queensland delivery van driver, is poised for a financial bonanza and is likely to be ranked at No. 3 on Australia's elite 25-man list, Fox Sports reports.

Johnson can expect a contract for about 850,000 dollars - a far cry from a time from 2004 when he was driving a plumbing supplies truck for a living.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and out-of-form batsman Mike Hussey, who both play all three forms of the game, are likely to be the other two ranked in the top five.

Pacer Peter Siddle will be another big winner while injury-hit speedster Brett Lee and troubled all rounder Andrew Symonds will have their contracts reduced.

CA will announce the contracts in the next fortnight before the squad takes part in a pre-Ashes camp on Queensland's Sunshine Coast from May 24. (ANI)