npower’s relationship with cricket has grown and grown since first signing up to be the title sponsor of the domestic Test Series in 2001.

The leading energy supplier announced a three-year extension to its title sponsorship of domestic Test match cricket in October 2006 - up to and including the 2009 npower Ashes Series.

There are a number of increased benefits to the new deal, including continued sponsorship of the Twenty20 Cup, greater involvement with Team England, headline sponsorship of the Cricket in the Park events in 2009, increased stadium branding and sponsorship of the Test match coverage shown on ECBtv.

npower will continue its highly successful grassroots initiative, Urban Cricket, which it runs in partnership with the ECB.

Kevin Miles, managing director of npower residential, said: “After the huge profile cricket enjoyed in the summer of 2005, the sport has continued to thrive and we've been delighted to be at the heart of it.

“Our cricket sponsorship has worked fantastically well for us - right from the launch of the npower brand - and we're already looking forward to the next three seasons, culminating in the return of the Australians in 2009.

“Our joint initiative with the ECB - Urban Cricket - proved the grassroots smash hit of the summer, grabbing headlines and, hopefully, new talent for the sport.

“Renewing our contract ensures the future of this scheme and means npower will have sponsored Test match cricket for at least nine seasons.”

The next stage of npower's Urban Cricket initiative will see the development of three Urban Cricket Arenas in South London, Birmingham and the North West of England in key urban areas.

This enables long-term sustainable legacy projects to be developed with key local partners.

In addition, five smaller Urban Cricket Zones will be created in key educational sites around each arena. This will give 15 zones across the three areas allowing the development work to continue in educational areas as well as the local community.

All these facilities are being developed in partnership with ECB, local cricket boards and both local authority and education departments.