Champions open season with Sussex test

THE first round of LV= County Championship fixtures next year will be the earliest ever, with seven matches beginning on April 5.

The official season curtain–raiser between the champion county Lancashire and an MCC XI will once again take place in Abu Dhabi on March 27 — the same date as last season.

But, with the first round of university games on March 31 and both divisions of the championship getting under way five days later, most players will be in action earlier than ever before.

The start of the championship season has been creeping forward for several years, beginning on April 9 in 2010 and on April 8 last term.

Champions Lancashire, who ended their 77–year wait for a title win in a dramatic denouement this summer, are given the first week of the season off after their return from the United Arab Emirates and will kick off their defence with a home match against Sussex on April 12.

Lancashire, who include local duo Kyle Hogg and Luke Procter in their squad, are also at home a week later when Warwickshire visit Liverpool.

Although the Red Rose county’s Old Trafford home will be open for business to host matches in the Friends Life t20 and CB40 competitions, the first county game at the famous venue since work started on the ground is not until July 18 against Worcestershire.

The final round of championship fixtures run from September 11–14. The last match of the season is on September 15 when Lord’s once again hosts the Clydesdale Bank 40 final.

Fans of Twenty20 cricket get their first chance to see the format on June 12 when the Friends Life t20 gets under way, with the ever–popular finals’ day held at Glamorgan's SWALEC Stadium for the first time on August 25.

Lancashire play host to Yorkshire on July 6 — one of 10 matches in the group phase of the competition.