Test matches in Australia "will be in need of a new naming rights sponsor" from mid-'17 after it was revealed that Commonwealth Bank's new A$15M ($11.5M) deal to "support diversity in the game over the next three years is in fact a reduction of the bank's investment in cricket" by more than a third, according to Daniel Brettig of ESPN.com. The previous deal between the bank and Cricket Australia, announced in May '13, was set to last four years to a value of no less than about A$50M. It included name sponsorship rights to the Australian Test team playing at home and home Test series. But this reportedly "will not be renewed beyond July next year." A Commonwealth Bank spokesperson said, "Commonwealth Bank remains a proud partner of Cricket Australia and is excited to rebalance its sponsorship to help even up the gender and diversity scales in professional sport." At the time it was a "significant expansion of the bank's role in support of Australian cricket," for its previous deal had covered the Southern Stars women's team and grassroots competitions for a "far less significant sum." The "rebalance" of the bank's sponsorship will now be directed at women's cricket, indigenous players, players with a disability and local clubs. However "the downgrade in financial investment will also leave a shortfall." A CA spokesperson said, "We have taken this opportunity to review our sponsorship structure, and have decided to separate Naming Rights Sponsorship for the men's international team and the series itself" (ESPN.com, 10/18).
