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VODAFONE EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH ENGLAND TEAM

Vodafone will continue its sponsorship of the England cricket team for a further four years.

The mobile phone company has been team sponsor since the 1997 tour to the West Indies and the agreement will continue through to the end of the 2009 Ashes Series.

The new commercial partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) provides Vodafone with a full package of sponsorship rights; branding on all playing and training kit, extensive access to the England players and exclusive 3G mobile content.

Starting with this summer's Ashes series, all Vodafone live! with 3G customers will be able to watch video highlights of all the action from England's home matches on their mobile phone.

David Collier, chief executive of the ECB, said: "This four-year agreement, which includes sponsorship of the England ‘A’ team, the England women's team and the ECB National Cricket Academy teams, demonstrates Vodafone's ongoing commitment to cricket and provides the ECB with valuable support in our longer term objective of delivering continuing success at the national level."