Ashes sponsor terminates CA over ball-tampering incident

Magellan Financial Group - a major sponsor of Cricket Australia has terminated a three-year deal after a ball-tampering scandal continues.

The deal estimated at $20 million when it was signed in August 2017, with the company having naming rights sponsorship of domestic Test matches just one summer into the three-year deal.

David Warner was the mastermind behind the scandal which has seen him, skipper Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft hit with long-term bans.

Sports apparel maker Asics Corp had also terminated sponsorship contracts with both Warner and Bancroft.

As a result of last weekend’s events in Cape Town involving members of the Australian men’s cricket team and following the sanctions made by Cricket Australia, ASICS has terminated its sponsorship contracts with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, effective immediately.

— ASICS Australia (@ASICSaustralia) 28 March 2018

Australia's vice-captain Warner and Smith have been banned from international as well as domestic cricket for 12 months and opening batsman Bancroft for nine months by Cricket Australia over the ball-tampering scandal during the third Test in South Africa.

Hamish Douglass, chief executive of the company, said: “Regrettably, these recent events are so inconsistent with our values that we are left with no option but to terminate our ongoing partnership with Cricket Australia.

“We were delighted with the recent Magellan Ashes Series sponsorship and it is with a heavy heart that we have to end our partnership in these circumstances.”

CONFIRMED: Cricket Australia has suspended Steve Smith and David Warner for 12 months following the ball tampering investigation.

Cameron Bancroft has been suspended for nine months.

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) 28 March 2018

Warner and Smith had already lost their captaincy for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals respectively before their punishment was announced, and the Indian Premier League had since confirmed both players would be banned “with immediate effect from participation” in the world's most lucrative Twenty20 tournament this year.

NZ seamer Matt Henry pens contract with Kent

New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry has signed a deal with Kent for the first half of the 2018 County season.

The 26-year-old, who has a vast of experience in English cricket after successful spells with Worcestershire and Derbyshire over the last two years, will be available for Kent's first seven matches in the County Championship and the Royal London Cup.

He has played 9 Tests, 35 ODIs and 6 T20Is for New Zealand.

The right-armer pacer will be also Kent's overseas player in England's domestic 50-over competition, the One Day Cup.

Henry is part of Black Cap's 12-man test squad for the upcoming series against England, which gets underway with the pink ball test at Eden Park, Auckland on March 22.

Kent's campaign starts on April 13 against Gloucestershire.