Fixtures For The 2009 County Cricket Championship Season

The fixtures for the start of the 2009 County Cricket season have recently been announced and county sides have begun their prepartions ahead of what most hope will be a successful season.

Aside from the traditional university matches, the first fixtures are LV County Championship games and see both newly promoted sides, Warwickshire, who didn't lose a single four day game in the 2008 season, and Worcestershire away to Somerset and Hampshire respectively. 

Holders Durham begin the defence of their crown on April 22 at home to Yorkshire.

In Division Two, Surrey who come down from Division One after failing to win any four day game last season host Gloucestershire and Essex, who were relegated on a dramatic final day of last season, face Derbyshire while Leicestershire are at home to Northamptonshire.

April 19 sees the first round of the Friends Provident Trophy get under way, this year there are four groups with five teams who play each other home and away with the top two going through to the knockout quarter-final stage.   

The tournament starts with the holders Essex vs. Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire vs. Sussex, Warwickshire vs. Somerset, Nottinghamshire vs. Leicestershire, Hampshire vs. Worcestershire, Durham vs. Yorkshire and Lancashire vs. Glamorgan.

Twenty20 fever hits again on May 25 when the first round of matches are played with holders Middlesex Crusaders hoping to be there on finals day August 15.   

The final year of the Natwest Pro40 provides an extra incentive as the winner gets to keep the trophy.

Sussex will be hoping they can defend their Division One title and begin against newly promoted Essex on July 13 while Yorkshire, the other promoted side, face Worcestershire away on July 15.  

Relegated Middlesex start on July 14 away to Warwickshire and the other relegated side, Lancashire, have to wait until July 18 when they host Derbyshire.     

With the fixtures sorted, all the counties have to sort out now is the team they will be fielding and their have been plenty of ins and outs at all counties already as they hope to shape the squad they need to add a trophy to the cabinet.