What an extraordinary thing: Magellan Financial Group, the asset manager founded 11 years ago by Hamish Douglass and Chris Mackay, is on the verge of being the naming sponsor of (men's) Test cricket in this country. The price tag is estimated at $6-8 million, plus the same again on activation.

Magellan bears no resemblance to the kind of brands to have splurged on major cricket sponsorships before it. Think brewer Carlton & United, telco Vodafone Hutchison, defunct airline Ansett and lung lolly purveyor Benson & Hedges.