News Archive - April 2002

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced new playing and training kits for the England Test Match and One-Day teams.

The One-Day kit features the most prominent change of 'look'. A new blue, taken from the Union Flag and called 'union blue', has been combined with red and white to offer a patriotic alternative to the George Cross colours, synonymous with the England Football Team, and the traditional all white of the England Test kit. The Admiral dynamic stripes, an Admiral design signature, give the kit a fashionable, 'retro' sportswear look, whilst utilising the latest in performance fabric technology. The shirt fabric is 100% polyester supertech pique and the cap is made in a breathable Tactel fabric.

This new One-Day International kit will be worn for the first time in the 2002 NatWest Series, and then for the 2003 Cricket World Cup where there will be a slightly changed configuration of the sponsors logos for the duration of the tournament.

The new Test Shirt has benefited from the introduction of micro-knit performance side panels, shaped to mirror the Admiral dynamic stripes, in order to give greater ventilation. Again made from polyester supertech pique, the ECB logos and embroideries are stitched in the new union blue colour. The new shirt will be first worn for the 1st npower Test Match against Sri Lanka in May.

The new training kit, meanwhile, is predominantly white but features the red and union blue from the One-Day kit to ensure a complimentary look to all the kits.

Terry Blake, ECB Commercial Director, said, "The new kit has been developed in conjunction with the England players and we believe that it will give a greater patriotic feel for our national cricket team as well as offering enhanced performance characteristics for the players."

Colin Donaldson, Licensing Director for Admiral, said, "We are delighted with our association with the England Cricket Team and naturally we are very pleased with the look and performance features of this new kit. We wish the England Team every success this coming summer and for the Ashes Series and the World Cup next winter."

The partnership between the ECB and Admiral dates back to May 2000 when their first England kit was developed. England has therefore used the same kits for the last two years and it is anticipated that these new kits will again have a two-year life.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has today announced a four year agreement with Liverpool Victoria, the UK's largest Friendly Society, for sponsorship of the County Championship.

The competition will be branded under Liverpool Victoria's affinity brand Frizzell, and will be known as the 'Frizzell County Championship'. The deal is worth �1m over four years plus there will be significant marketing support. Frizzell will also become sponsors of the Women's County Championship.
Tim Lamb, ECB Chief Executive, said: "I am delighted to welcome Liverpool Victoria and its Frizzell brand into cricket sponsorship. The County Championship is the oldest domestic competition and it provides the major platform for the development of our future Test Match players."

Simon Rhodes, Liverpool Victoria's Group Director - Marketing & Sales, said: "We want to make more people aware of the Frizzell brand and the competitive products and services available to members of our affinity groups. The county championship is an ideal vehicle for us to be able to achieve this.

"Frizzell has affinity relationships with a large number of professional groups, associations and trade unions, encompassing some 5.5 million people. This sponsorship gives us a great opportunity to promote our affinity group services to new and existing customers."

Current County Champions Yorkshire, who with 30 titles have won the championship more times than any other county, begin their campaign at Headingley on Wednesday 24 April against Surrey, who were champions in 1999 and 2000 and are second place in the all time list with 17 wins.

The 2002 Frizzell County Championship season starts on Friday 19 April. The County Championship is the oldest domestic County Cricket competition, dating back to 1890.