Search over as cricket enters new era with Ask.com

England's Michael Vaughan at the launch of Ask.com's partnership

Search engine Ask.com has become the first ever dot com brand to sign up as an ‘Official Partner of the England Cricket Team’ – heralding a new age for cricket sparked off by the recent Ashes victory.

The partnership moves away from traditional branding tools, with a summer of events, exclusive cricket content, access to the players and ticket giveaways to get fans even closer to cricket.

Supporters will experience a different side to the sport, with the chance to get in on the action at home, at work and at the grounds themselves.

Ask.com will be present at the grounds at all summer npower Test matches and NatWest Series one-day internationals against Pakistan and Sri Lanka – interacting with the crowd on Ask.com Fridays.

A micro site www.Ask.com/cricket will also be on hand to guide fans through the summer’s action - offering exclusive pre- and post-game expert analysis from Simon Hughes, news and stats, competitions and a bespoke version of the infamous online game – 'Stickcricket'.

Most importantly, Ask.com is providing the opportunity for supporters to meet and mix with England cricket’s finest. Listen to Freddie Flintoff’s experiences, learn tips from Michael Vaughan and feel a part of this summer’s cricket celebrations with unique Ask.com player evenings.

Rachel Johnson, Ask.com’s Vice-President of Marketing for Europe said: “For us cricket was a natural choice - both our brand and the sport have recently ‘re-launched’ and are entering new eras, gaining momentum and attracting new audiences.

"Our sponsorship of the England Cricket Team gives us the chance to use our online expertise to bring something fresh and exciting to fans. As a brand we urge people to Ask.com and Get and we plan to use our sponsorship to really get behind cricket and provide ways for supporters to get more from their love of cricket.”

David Collier, Chief Executive of the ECB said: “Since last summer, we have seen a definite rise in cricket’s audience and its popularity. It’s great to have a new partner on board who appreciates this and is looking to reach our new spectators.

"I am confident that Ask.com and the ECB will make a great partnership and we look forward to working together.”

The Ask.com cricket microsite

Further information:

• Fans will see Ask.com take ownership of Fridays at Test match grounds through a combination of directional signage – helping consumers find their way around the ground and brand experiences – ground maps, competitions and Adwalkers
• Ask.com player evenings will give fans the exclusive opportunity to win the chance to meet one of their cricketing heroes and ask him questions in a relaxed setting
• A leading engine on the Web, Ask.com combines world-class technology with one-of-a-kind search tools to help people get what they are looking for faster