ING, which earlier this year changed its name from Mercantile Mutual, is celebrating its tenth year as sponsor of the national limited overs cricket competition with a Million Dollar jackpot for big hitting batsmen.

ING has also committed to sponsoring the competition under its new name, the ING Cup, for at least the next five years.

When a batsman hits a six in any ING Cup fixture during the summer, he immediately activates the possibility of the million dollar payout, as the four ING Cup target signs square of the wicket become live.

If any of those signs are then struck on the full by either batsman during the same over then ING will award the one million dollar prize to the lucky batsman.

The Million Dollar Jackpot is a major innovation and, together with other promotions during each match, it puts the emphasis on excitement and interest for players and fans in the competition that is the breeding ground for the one-day international stars of the future.

ING Sponsorship Manager Geoff Prenter said: "We wanted to do something extra special to celebrate the tenth anniversary of our association with the Australian Cricket Board and the ING Cup and the Million Dollar Jackpot is as extra special as it gets.

"The ING Cup is all about excitement and the Million Dollar Jackpot, together with the other promotions will ensure that there is plenty for the spectators and players to get excited about this summer.

"The ING Cup continues to go from strength to strength and we believe that this season will produce the best action yet."

Other promotions include a continuation of the regular Hit the Sign and Catch the Six competitions at every televised match during the summer, and the introduction of a Catch the Six Trump Player for the new season.

The regular Hit the Sign promotion has already seen ING give away $380,000 to big-hitting batsmen since it began.

And with a continuation of the full program of home and away matches this summer after its successful introduction in 2000-01, there is every chance that more big-money prizes will be given out this season.

The regular Hit the Sign prize fund starts at $10,000 and increases by $10,000 for every match where a sign is not hit, up to a maximum of $200,000.

Past winners are all from last year's Champions, the New South Wales Blues, and players from the other five States will all be out to end that dominance.

Stephen Waugh claimed $140,000 in 1995-96 when he Hit the Sign against the Western Warriors at the WACA in Perth, Shane Lee collected $90,000 for his accurate blow against the Canberra Comets at Manuka Oval in 1998-99, and Brad Haddin inflicted another strike against the Western Warriors at the WACA to pick up a $150,000 cheque in 1999-2000.

The popular Catch the Six promotion also returns with any spectator that catches a six earning the cash jackpot for that match. For televised matches, that jackpot starts at $100 and increases by $100 for each match that follows if a catch is not taken, up to a maximum of $1,000. And even in non-televised matches, there is still a potential $100 pay-out for a fan with a safe pair of hands.

On top of this offer is the Catch a Six Trump Player. At the toss before each match the two captains will nominate their "Trump Player" and if a spectator catches a six hit by that batsman then he or she will collect $1000.

Australian Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said: "This week's release of the seedings for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa is the best possible reminder that the ING Cup is the breeding ground for players striving to take part in that event.

"This is a superb tournament and with a combination of the new innovations, the return of popular competitions for players and spectators alike and the top-class talent on display, it should be an ING Cup season to remember."

© 2001 Australian Cricket Board

		Results - Forthcoming Desktop Scoreboard

Site Map | RSS feeds | Link to us | Help & feedback | Contact us | About us | Advertise | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

© Cricinfo 2009 Cricinfo is part of ESPN ESPN - Soccernet - Scrum - F1-live - Scorecenter