Warwickshire County Cricket Club has signed a two-year extension to its commercial partnership with National Express West Midlands to continue as Official Passenger & Coach Travel Partner until at least the end of 2019.

National Express West Midlands has been working with Warwickshire CCC since the start of 2015 and the new agreement will see it continue to provide return shuttle bus services from Birmingham city centre to Edgbaston for spectators attending international fixtures and Birmingham Bears home games in the Vitality Blast.

There’s no point in just filling the holes and just getting back up in the First Division and risking being back in the same situation as last year. This club deserves better than that. It deserves to be a consistent top-tier force and it will take work to get us back to that.

Gareth Roberts

The agreement also includes perimeter advertising at Edgbaston, reciprocal website branding and tickets and hospitality places at Edgbaston’s international fixtures.

Gareth Roberts, Commercial Director at Warwickshire CCC, said: “We’re committed to making the journey to Edgbaston as quick and easy as possible and the partnership with National Express West Midlands ensures that this will continue, with the shuttle bus service running for our extensive programme of major matches over the next two years.

“National Express West Midlands have been a fantastic partner and it shares our vision of making the Edgbaston match day experience one of the best in sport. We thank all at the firm for their support with this partnership.”

Edgbaston hosts 17 days of major match cricket over the next two years, including England’s Vitality International T20 against Australia, a Test match against India, and Vitality Blast Finals Day this year. In 2019 it hosts five games in the prestigious ICC Cricket World Cup and a Test match in England’s eagerly -awaited Ashes series against Australia.

Tom Stables, Managing Director of National Express West Midlands: “We’re delighted to be extending our successful partnership with Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

“Edgbaston match days are a huge draw for cricket fans within the West Midlands and across the UK. National Express West Midlands is looking forward to contributing to a great day out for visitors by taking care of the shuttle transport for them.”