They have paid Murray a reported £3 million a year to switch from his long-time sponsor Fred Perry and wear their kit, including at next year's Wimbledon.

The sponsorship deal to sport the firm's famous three stripes will dwarf his on-court earnings, which reached £2.25 million last year.

The Scot will be allowed to keep his shirt sleeve sponsors, Highland Spring and RBS, unlike a offer made to him by Adidas' main rivals Nike, who already sponsor Murray's main competitors, Roger Federer and Rafal Nadal.

The Adidas deal is expected to be officially signed by Murray after the US Open, where he is seeded to meet Nadal in the semi-finals, en route to a possible confrontation with Wimbledon champion Federer in the final.

Murray wore Adidas clothing when he played in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as part of Britain's sponsorship deal with the company.

The contract is part of plans by Murray's agents at management firm 19 - owned by music mogul Simon Fuller - to turn the Scot into a global brand.

Fuller also manages David Beckham, who is also on Adidas' books.

The firm are also expected to sign up the Scotland football team after the national side's supplier Diadora UK went bust, continuing their marketing drive which included signing an £80 million deal to become one of the main sponsors of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

Murray has worn Fred Perry gear since signing with them in 2004 but almost dumped them last year in favour of K-Swiss.

He ended up signing a one-year extension with Fred Perry, whose gear he modelled before Wimbledon.

He also brings in several million a year from deals with Highland Spring, RBS and racket sponsor Head.

Tendulkar (pictured) has been an Adidas athlete for more than 10 years but until now the deal only involved him wearing the company's shoes and clothing.

But now he will use their bat as the company launches a campaign to become the biggest player in the lucrative Indian market.

 Adidas India Managing Director Andreas Gellner said: "It was only a matter of time before we ventured into the organised cricket hardware market in a cricket-crazy nation like India.

"We aim to be a [market] leader within the next five years."

Tendulkar will be the face of the new marketing campaign.

He is the sport's biggest name having scored a record 12,773 runs in 159 tests and 16,684 in 425 one-day internationals.


Gellner said: "Sachin has more than a decade long association with our company, specially in promoting our footwear range.

"There could not be a better brand ambassador for promoting our new cricket products than him."

Adidas' cricket equipment range includes bats, balls, apparels, pads, gloves, helmets and other accessories.
 

The company had entered the cricket hardware market globally earlier this year.

In India, Adidas' new range would be sold through 250-300 sales points, including 40-50 Adidas exclusive stores and up to 4250 other specialised sports outlets, Gellner said.    
 

The company would also be launching a marketing and advertising campaign to back its new foray.

Gellner said: "Although the organised market for cricket equipment and accessories is small compared with the non-branded segment, it is growing fast.

"We want to utilise the potential this provides."    


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