This summer's Ashes series still hangs in the balance despite what was described as a "productive" meeting between Cricket Australia and the head of the players' association on Sunday.

CA chief James Sutherland and his Australian Cricketers' Association counterpart Alistair Nicholson met in Melbourne, a day after what has been described as an inflammatory email from Nicholson to Australia's top cricketers declared the sport's marquee Test series was under threat over a pay dispute now into its ninth month.

"Cricket Australia will not comment on details of the negotiation but productive discussions were held today and progress is being made on a range of issues," a CA spokesman said.

"We have been in constant communication with the ACA and we are expecting further meetings on the negotiation to continue over the coming days."

The ACA did not wish to comment when contacted on Sunday night.

The meeting between Sutherland and Nicholson had been arranged on Friday, with a view to formal negotiations resuming early this week. But the ACA's shock email to players meant this meeting took on heightened importance.

It's understood Nicholson's response to questions why the email had been sent was that the ACA needed to keep the players up-to-date on negotiations.

CA has kept the England and Wales Cricket Board in the loop about the pay talks but there had been no feedback this weekend. Broadcast networks and supporter groups, namely the Barmy Army, are also following the dispute intently.

Nicholson had said on Saturday even if the two parties tentatively agreed to a new deal soon, there still may be not enough time to tick off on the key issues before the Ashes begin in Brisbane on November 23.

That CA had not agreed to the players' six-point plan on their "terms sheet", which they say is needed to find common ground, had added to the Ashes being in peril. The ACA on Sunday had badged this sheet, having been circulated to players on Saturday, as revealed by Fairfax Media, as a "peace plan".

Australia's Test tour of Bangladesh next month and a one-day series against India in October are also in doubt which, should they be scrapped, would cost CA millions of dollars in lost broadcast rights and potentially other penalties. It would also be a poor look for players who enjoy the spoils of the lucrative Indian Premier League.

The key issue remains how players will be paid. Players, set to pocket about $450 million over the next five years, want to continue to be paid from gross revenue; CA wants to change this now to a set pool with a share in surplus funds. Players were further riled on Friday when it emerged CA had dropped the words "revenue share" in a proposed new Article 5 of the next MOU.

Reaching in-principle agreement is what the players have attempted to do this week as a way of breaking the deadlock and not jeopardising any more cricket.

ACA chief Alistair Nicholson

As part of their six-point plan, the players said they would accept CA's revenue scenario forecasts, accept an agreed percentage of Australian cricket revenue, which factors in women players for the first time, and "revenue sharing is then modernised so that the players allocate an amount of the players' share of revenue to grassroots investment. This could be up to $30 million via their Player Grassroots Investment fund".

"This figure has been arrived at as it would match the current offer from CA to direct its proposed administrative cost savings into grassroots cricket, which itself is a welcome contribution from CA," Nicholson wrote.

"Both parties agree to a gender-neutral pay model and the inclusion of women in the one MOU; and back pay be provided to players [who have kept training even though unemployed] and the current adjustment ledger would not be 'rolled over', both of which are, as instructed by you, plainly and rightly non-negotiable."

In terms of the overall MOU, he added that "if there is agreement, the next step would be the more intensive MOU and contract drafting period".

"Given past experience and the massive detail involved, this would take some time and still may not be completed with time enough to meet the needs of fans, sponsors and broadcasters invested in the upcoming tours and the summer of cricket," he said.

CA has been "stunned" by the ACA's declaration and insists the terms sheet carries no legal weight and is not part of the MOU.

On Sunday morning, Nicholson said a way to avert what would be a disastrous cancellation of series would be to reach an in-principle agreement, as the 700-page MOU could take more than a year to ratify.

"The previous MOU took almost 18 months to draft following an in-principle position being reached by both parties," he said.

"Reaching in-principle agreement is what the players have attempted to do this week as a way of breaking the deadlock and not jeopardising any more cricket.

"The players in the latest ACA offer have moved a long way. We are seeking the same kind of movement from CA."

If the players do not get their way, Candice Warner, the wife of Australian vice-captain David Warner, said players would be prepared to strike.

"I think they will. I really think they will. They are standing strong on this and, if they don't get the MOU they want, then absolutely," she told Channel Nine's Sports Sunday.

She said players were not interested in an interim measure floated by former captain Michael Clarke of allowing the current pay deal to roll over for 12 months, giving both parties more time to strike a deal.

Players without multi-year contracts have been unemployed since July 1, with CA diverting the $2 million in lost wages so far to grassroots and club cricket. CA has refused the ACA's requests for mediation.