Fresh from the success of the 2002 NatWest Series - and the thrilling final at Lord's - the sponsors, the NatWest Bank, have agreed an extension to their contract wiith the ECB, and will sponsor the one-day international tournament until 2005 at least. The expanded sponsorship agreement will also include an annual separate three-match one-day series, to be known as the NatWest Challenge. England's opponents in 2003 are scheduled to be Pakistan.

NatWest sponsored England's premier domestic one-day competition from 1980, before switching to the international arena in 2000. Ian Henderson, their director of retail marketing, said: "NatWest's sponsorship of cricket from international to grass-roots level over the last 22 years has been a huge success. We are therefore delighted to be extending our sponsorship and support."

NatWest will also continue to actively support grass-roots cricket, which is a major part of the sponsorship programme. Over £500,000 has been invested in the last three years through a series of initiatives including the NatWest "Get Involved" programme (part of the NatWest Volunteer Support Programme) and the distribution of 800 Flicx pitches and 10,000 skills balls to schools and clubs across the UK.

Tim Lamb, the ECB's chief executive, said: "NatWest's long-standing support of English and Welsh cricket has been invaluable to the game, so we are delighted at their decision to continue their sponsorship of international cricket through. This new addition [the NatWest Challenge] will enable England to play a guaranteed nine days of competitive one-day international cricket each summer, supporting the England team management's desire to gain further experience in this form of the game."

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