UK: Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries reached �1 million sponsorship agreement with England cricket team

Black Country beer and pubs giant Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries is hoping for a 'Pedigree' performance from England's cricketers after Marstons became the team's official beer.

The deal - thought to be worth around £1 million - is the biggest sports sponsorship in the Wolverhampton brewery's 116-year history. It means Marstons will be the England team beer for the Ashes in Australia and for the World Cup next March.

The Wolverhampton-based company, famous for its Banks's beers, employs more than 10,000 people and owns more than 2,300 pubs in England and Wales.

Its sponsorship of the team was unveiled August 17 at The Brit Oval, on the first day of England's fourth npower Test against Pakistan.

Financial details of the deal are being kept strictly under wraps but the sponsorship will run for three years and is thought to be worth around £1 million.

Mobile phones group Vodafone pays around £3 million to sponsor the team shirts while gas and electricity business npower pays around £10 million to sponsor the games.

As part of the deal England's prolific bowler and renowned real ale lover Matthew Hoggard has stepped up to become the Marston brand's official ambassador.

To mark the milestone, drinkers, brewery staff and pubs are being given the chance to win all-expenses paid trip to see the Ashes in Australia.