Ansett Australia and ACB renew Test partnership in Multi-million dollar agreement
Ansett Australia and the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) have agreed a new five-year sponsorship of domestic Test match cricket, it was announced today.
The multi-million dollar agreement, which covers the five seasons from 2001-02 to 2006-07 inclusive, is one of the largest financial commitments the ACB has ever received from a sponsor.
The sponsorship allows Ansett Australia naming rights to each Test match played in Australia during the time of the agreement, as well as branding on Test match playing shirts and training apparel and other supplementary benefits including signage at venues.
Ansett Australia's sponsorship of domestic Test cricket will ensure the continuation of an arrangement that began with the Ansett Australia Test Series against the West Indies in 1996-97.
The agreement also includes a continuation of Ansett Australia's status as Official Supplier of domestic air travel, an arrangement that has been in place for 17 years.
It guarantees the financial stability of domestic Test cricket for the foreseeable future and will help ensure widespread promotion of matches as Ansett's marketing department will again assist in this area.
Commenting on the agreement, Ansett Australia President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Toomey said: "Signing this new five year multi-million dollar sponsorship deal shows Ansett's absolute commitment to cricket, a sport that plays an important part in Australia's history and culture.
"We have been committed to cricket for 17 years as their Official Airline and are proud to continue to support Australia's most popular national sport and particularly the Australian Test team who are the current world record holders for the most number of consecutive Test match wins."
ACB Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed said: "The ACB has a history of long partnerships with sponsors and we are delighted to continue our close association with Ansett Australia.
"We believe that Ansett Australia's decision to renew its partnership with the ACB is another encouraging indicator of the health of the game of cricket in this country.
"The Australian Test team has thrived during the past five seasons of sponsorship by Ansett Australia and with the help of this outstanding agreement we hope that can continue for another five years."
During the course of Ansett Australia's sponsorship of domestic Test cricket Australia has played seven series at home and has won them all, beating the West Indies twice (1996-97 and 2000-01) and also defeating New Zealand and South Africa (1997-98), England (1998-99), and Pakistan and India (1999-2000).
Of the 27 Ansett Australia Test matches played during that period, Australia has won 20 (a 74% winning ratio), drawing four and losing only three times.
Australian captain Stephen Waugh said: "Playing Test cricket is a high-point in a player's career and Ansett Australia's sponsorship has helped to ensure this form of the game has retained its place as a major focal point of the national sporting calendar.
"Our record under Ansett Australia's sponsorship has been a very good one and with the advent of the International Cricket Council's World Championship of Test cricket it will be more important than ever to retain that form to ensure we remain the top Test-playing nation."
The first Test match to be played under Ansett Australia's new sponsorship term will be against New Zealand at The Gabba in Brisbane, starting on 8 November 2001.
It is the first of six Tests to be played during the summer, with further Ansett Australia Test matches against New Zealand in Hobart (22-26 November) and Perth (30 November - 4 December). That series is followed by a three-match series against South Africa with Ansett Australia Test matches in Adelaide (14-18 December), Melbourne (26-30 December) and Sydney (2-6 January 2002).
An announcement on when tickets will go on sale for the Ansett Australia Test matches will be made in due course.
© 2001 Australian Cricket Board
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