Championship sponsor agrees new deal

The insurer LV will continue to sponsor the County Championship until 2015 after agreeing a new four-year deal with the ECB. The announcement extends a relationship between the company formerly known as Liverpool Victoria and England's domestic four-day competition that began in 2002.

LV will receive tickets for the competition to distribute as well as branding rights that include sponsorship of County Championship highlights, which can be viewed via the ECB and first-class county websites. Last year's title was won in dramatic fashion by Lancashire - for the first time in 77 years - with aggregate attendances rising by 9%, from 487,000 to 531,000, between 2010 and 2011. The new season is set to commence on April 5.

"Our partnership with LV= has brought significant benefits to the domestic game and we are delighted that they are to continue their long association with this famous competition," ECB commercial director, John Perera, said.

"Last year's County Championship race proved to be a particularly memorable one and the significant increase in attendances announced today demonstrates that the competition is in robust health as it enters its 123rd year and continues to act as an excellent breeding ground for future England Test players."