Banking group NatWest has upgraded its long-running association with the England and Wales Cricket Board to become the body’s principal partner.
The four-year deal becomes effective in May 2017 and will run until 2021. NatWest has been a partner of the ECB since 1980.
Under the new deal, NatWest’s branding will feature on the front of all English national team playing jerseys. The group will also provide support to a range of amateur clubs and leagues, as well as England’s teams across all disciplines and age groups.
NatWest will continue to serve as title sponsor of the community-focused NatWest CricketForce initiative. In 2014 NatWest became the sponsor of the inaugural T20 Blast domestic Twenty20 tournament in a deal that will continue in 2017.
David Wheldon, chief marketing officer at NatWest, said: “Ever since we first established the NatWest Trophy in conjunction with the ECB in 1980, cricket has been ingrained in the DNA of NatWest and I am delighted that we will be reinvigorating this partnership by becoming the ECB’s first ever principal partner.
“There’s an immense amount to be excited about in cricketing circles at the moment, and this sponsorship means NatWest can support a sport which means so much to our customers and businesses. Through this partnership we will be able to help local communities and also celebrate success at all levels of the game.”
NatWest will replace supermarket chain Waitrose as the ECB’s main sponsor. Waitrose’s three-year agreement with the body expires after the conclusion of England’s tour of India in December. Waitrose replaced financial services company Brit Insurance in the role in May 2014.