Dettol and Cricket Australia announce new partnership supporting cricket's hygienic return

A new four-year partnership between Cricket Australia and the disinfectant brand Dettol’s parent company, Reckitt Benckiser, has been announced today supporting the secure and hygienic return of cricket for Australian players, staff, fans and the community.

Dettol will join as the naming rights partner of the Men’s One Day International and Men’s T20 International Series as well as the Men’s Support Team, along with a partnership with the World Cup-winning Women’s International team, for the next four years.

Integral to the partnership will be Cricket Australia and Dettol working together to investigate the transmission of germs in sport - where use of sweat to polish the cricket ball during game play is common practice - while cricket administrators also search for ways to deal with playing the game alongside challenges posed by COVID-19.

Having heard about Cricket Australia’s plans to test disinfectant on cricket balls, Dettol offered to lend their expertise to test and validate different hypotheses on germ transfer throughout the game in order to help protect players and staff.

The two organisations will work together to develop important hygiene protocols to benefit the teams, support staff and wider cricketing community. Dettol will also provide product to players, staff and suppliers offering trusted germ protection throughout the season, in keeping with Cricket Australia’s extensive hubs protocols.

This will be especially important as the men’s and women’s cricket teams travel across the country to play in the upcoming international fixtures.

In addition to helping support the return of cricket at the elite level, Dettol has also indicated a keenness to support the return of grassroots and community cricket in this challenging environment.

Protocols have been put in place to ensure cricket can be played with confidence during summer competitions nationally this year with Dettol set to supply product to the current 3,455 cricket clubs offering trusted germ protection to players.

Through the partnership, Dettol will also help inspire and reinforce new hygiene behaviour changes in the next generation of Australians, both through community cricket and Dettol’s Healthy Habits school program.

Cricket Australia Interim Chief Executive, Nick Hockley advised “we feel exceptionally fortunate and proud to be partnering with Reckitt Benckiser. Dettol is such a well-known and trusted brand with a long heritage, both here in Australia and around the world, and their support will give confidence about protecting the return of community and elite cricket this summer.

“Beyond this summer, we look forward to working with Dettol to help embed hygienic behavioural change into schools, clubs and communities through cricket.”

Reckitt Benckiser Health ANZ, Regional Director, Dave Rankine adds “we’re excited to bring the expertise of Dettol to Cricket Australia, partnering together to protect the sport so many Australian’s love, from watching our national teams play, to participating in games ourselves through community clubs. Our partnership with Cricket Australia will help to embed important hygiene habits into the lives all Australians as we enter the new normal.

“At Dettol, we are dedicated to protecting the moments that matter most to Australians, having done so for over 80 years. It’s important that we all continue to play our role as industry leaders to cement important hygiene practices in all Australian’s working together as a nation to protect tomorrow.”

Image courtesy of Cricket Australia