The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Etihad Airways have today announced a three-year agreement that will make the Abu Dhabi company English cricket's first official airline.

As part of the deal, England will head to the UAE for winter training camps and the pair will lead a community-based cricket initiative.

The lucrative deal will also see all England's national squads – across men’s, women’s, age-group and disability cricket – fly with the UAE airline.

It will also allow Etihad to carry advertising at international grounds in England and Wales, offer hospitality packages and access to the antional team's star cricketers for promotional events.

In an official ECB statement, chief executive David Collier said: “We are delighted to welcome such a prestigious global brand as Etihad into our ever-expanding family of commercial partners. 

"This is a major business partnership for ECB which will bring significant benefits to all our England teams and we will be working closely with Etihad to deliver maximum exposure for their brand.”

Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of Etihad Airways, added: “The welcome addition of the England cricket team to our growing portfolio of global sporting associations demonstrates our commitment to the UK market and also to major international sporting events.

“Cricket enables Etihad Airways to create strong synergies between the key cricket playing nations and our major flight networks across the Indian subcontinent, Australia and the UK.

"Cricket forms an important part of our international marketing strategy, providing us with an ideal platform to further build our brand in the UK, and create a deeper connection with our guests through supporting one of England’s favourite sports.”