Marston’s is an official partner of the Twenty20 Cup. As part of the two-year deal, Marston’s Smooth has become the official beer of the Twenty20 Cup and sponsor of the umpires in all domestic Twenty20 Cup matches.

Yasir Arafat and Rob Key celebrate Kent's win in the 2007 Twenty20 Cup

The sponsorship agreement with Marston’s also includes perimeter advertising, branding on the famous dug-out, tickets, hospitality packages and promotional activities around Twenty20 Cup match venues.

The ECB and Marston’s will also marry their respective Crowd Management and ‘Drink Within Your Boundaries’ campaigns at Twenty20 Cup matches, sharing best practice on issues such as bar staff training.

John Perera, ECB commercial director, said: “We welcome Marston’s to the Twenty20 Cup at such an exciting time for the competition, following their established association with First-Class cricket.

"We are delighted that Marston’s has agreed to share best practice with regard to their responsible drinking campaigns which, along with other measures to be announced shortly, will be in place at all Twenty20 Cup matches this season.”

Marston’s Beer Company Marketing Director Peter Jackson said: “We are delighted to further strengthen our support of the ECB and cricket in England and Wales with the sponsorship of the Twenty20 Cup.

"Throughout our business we are committed to tackling and promoting responsible drinking. This is reinforced through staff training within our pub businesses but also through on-pack, bottle and can messaging and brand advertising.

"We will be supporting the ECB by offering training to bar staff in ground and a host of other initiatives throughout the season.”