Trophy gets new sponsor

Gloucestershire will defend a new trophy

Cheltenham & Gloucester has agreed a three-year deal to sponsor what was formerly known as the NatWest Trophy.

The England and Wales Cricket Board announced the details of the £3m sponsorship by the financial services company at Lord's on Wednesday.

The one-day knockout tournament will now be known as the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy and will run until the summer of 2003.

The tournament begins on 1 May with the final at Lord's on 1 September.

ECB chief executive Tim Lamb said the positive atmosphere surrounding the game had helped it attract new sponsors.

This is the second major sponsorship the ECB has secured recently after Npower agreed to back Test cricket.

Holders determined

Cheltenham & Gloucester's managing director Roger Burden said the deal was a reinforcement of its commitment to cricket at all levels.

Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne said his side were looking forward to defending the trophy they had won in 1999 and again last year.

He said they were determined to make a return to the final in September.

ECB officials said they were hopeful of announcing a new sponsor for the County Championship shortly.