Being Italian, Vodafone's new chief executive, Vittorio Colao, probably isn't interested in cricket. The telecoms group backs the England cricket team - a sponsorship that runs until next year.

Vodafone also sponsors Lewis Hamilton's McLaren team, and departing boss Arun Sarin, who much enjoyed his motor racing, was seen in the paddocks at various F1 races wearing racing ear-muffs, while former Vodafone chief executive Sir Chris Gent and chairman Lord McLaurin are both big cricket fans, with the latter being a former chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board.