Britannic Assurance raise sponsorship of County Championship to £1.65m

Britannic Assurance are to provide the County Championship with sponsorship worth £1.65m over the next three years. Under the new deal, the prize fund for the competition is increased to £192,500 for the coming season, with the winners receiving £55,000. The total compares with £164,300 last year. The winners of each four-day Championship match will receive £750, £150 up on last year.

Warwickshire have made their former director of coaching Bob Woolmer an Honorary Life Member for his contribution to last season's historic treble. Woolmer, now coach to the South Africa team, was at Edgbaston for four years.