Vodafone is ending its sponsorship of the English cricket team - currently on tour in India.

The four year deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will end after the winter tour of South Africa in January 2010. Though given the team's lamentable performance of late, it would be entirely understandable if Vodafone wanted to get their logos off the team's shirts ASAP.

Ian Shepherd, commercial director at Vodafone UK, said the firm looked forward to an exciting summer of Ashes cricket. "We are also working with the ECB to develop a legacy programme at grass roots level which builds on the long term investment we have made in the success of cricket across England and Wales,” he said.

A spokesman for the English Cricket Board said no definite sponsor was lined up to take Vodafone's place on the white jumpers. ®

Related stories

• Weak pound helps Vodafone dial up profit (3 February 2009)
• Mumbai terrorist attacks kill at least 100 (27 November 2008)
• Satyam ups the ante for World Cup tech (21 April 2008)
• Column Keeping a Hawk-Eye on those miserable Wii kids (13 September 2007)
• Vodafone exits stage left to actor jibes (18 November 2002)