KFC has launched the KFC Stick Cricket Championship – a unique search for Australia’s best Stick Cricketer – as part of its Summer of Cricket campaign.

Australia is going cricket crazy this summer. KFC has linked up with StickCricket.com.au, to continue its successful association with the world’s most popular online cricket game and Australia’s national sport.

The search is on for Australia’s best Stick Cricketer

The KFC Stick Cricket Championship is an exclusive, quick fire version of StickCricket.com.au – the cult online cricket game. Players have to score as many runs as possible from 20 deliveries, and will lose a ball every time they don’t hit a 6.

Fans and devotees of StickCricket.com.au will notice an arsenal of additional features in the KFC Stick Cricket Championship, including new shots, new deliveries and new character animations. Players can also enjoy exclusive commentary by ‘The 12th Man’.

StickCricket.com.au is the world’s most popular online cricket game and the second most popular cricket website on the Internet, offering a series of addictive and free-to-play batting games. Stick Cricket offers companies unrivalled opportunities to market to its youthful, predominantly male game players through a variety of interactive channels such as advertising, branding and competitions.

Jason Marker, KFC Marketing Director says, “For the second year in a row, KFC will sponsor StickCricket.com.au. The introduction of a new and exclusive game as well as the KFC on pack promotion run via StickCricket.com.au, will build on the success of our sponsorship of Stick Cricket last summer. StickCricket.com.au is the perfect channel to communicate with the youthful, sports loving Australian market.”

Paul Collins, Director of Stick Sports said, “The Ashes have been totally one-sided this summer. The KFC Stick Cricket Championship gives Australian cricket fans a great chance for some real competition. Forget about the English and play one another for a chance to be crowned Australia’s best Stick Cricketer.”

Australia’s best Stick Cricketer will receive a cricket bat and shirt signed by the Australian KFC Twenty20 team.

The launch of the KFC Stick Cricket Championship has resulted in a flurry of online activity this month. It is estimated that StickCricket.com will receive 3.3 million visits from 1.4 million unique visitors, and 17.5 million individual page views in December 2006.

KFC is also running a six-week consumer promotion in conjunction with its sponsorship of StickCricket.com.au. The campaign will be run in KFC stores nationally. The campaign will be featured in KFC’s TV and radio advertising. The prize packs contain prizes valued at more than $2,500.

To enter the KFC Stick Cricket Championship and for a chance to win awesome prize packs, consumers must purchase a KFC Lunch Box and visit StickCricket.com.au.