With the tune of auld lang syne still ringing in the ears of the nation, Slazenger wasted no time in initiating a sponsorship deal with the Middlesex and England star Eoin Morgan early in January this year.

One of the hottest prospects in cricket, Morgan quickly shot to international prominence with his combination of steely-eyed determination, wristy reversesweeps and power hitting down the ground during the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

He is the only player in history to score an ODI hundred for two nations, and is particularly famous for his lower-order hitting ability – credentials that have earned him his reputation as a one-day ‘finisher’. This was boosted further still by a nerveless unbeaten century, which secured England a victory in the first ODI against Australia in June 2010. England went on to win 3-2, with Morgan named man of the series.

He also played a huge part helping England retain the Ashes in Australia, where he endorsed the V360 bat – part of Slazenger’s new 2011 cricket range. Engineered with a high middle, the V360 has been developed for fantastic allround improvised shots – as its name suggests. And it’s perfect for Eoin’s trademark reverse sweep too, with a higher extended sweet spot for outstanding manoeuvrability and a beautiful balanced pick-up that enables him to adapt to each delivery precisely.

“Eoin is one of a kind – a massive asset to Slazenger’s team of brand ambassadors,” says Chloe Passant in Sports Marketing, “He’s got the potential to star in the England team for many years to come, especially with the support that a world-class cricket power like Slazenger can and will put behind him. Expect great things...”