County Cricket Fixtures 2010

The fixtures for the 2010 County Cricket season were announced today with defending champions Durham going for a third successive title against newly promoted Essex in the County Championship.

The other promoted side Kent, who won Division Two last season, face Nottinghamshire, who finished second in Divison One last year, on Apr. 15.

Worcestershire, who didn't win a game in 2009's County Championship Division One, start again Middlesex on Apr. 9 hoping to bounce straight back.

The other relegated side, Sussex, face Glamorgan away on Apr. 9.

Most counties begin their season with matches against university sides on Apr. 3, 2010.

All County Championship matches will be completed by Sept. 17. 

This year's Twenty20 competition features 151 scheduled matches by 18 teams divided into North and South groups.

Meaning last year's finalists Somerset and Sussex start in the same group aiming to reach finals day on Aug. 14.

With no 50-over cricket being played in the 2010 season the new ECB 40 league, featuring Netherlands, Scotland, and an ECB recreational XI (made up of minor county cricketers) begins on Apr. 25 and concludes Sept. 18.

County ins and outs are still progressing in the buildup to another exciting season of four-day and one-day cricket.

Leicestershire player Matthew Hoggard faces his old side Yorkshire on Jun. 20 in the Friends Provident Twenty20 cup, while Sussex new boy Monty Panesar squares up against Northants on May 18 in the County Championship Division Two.

Crowds will also be treated to overseas players such as Middlesex's Adam Gilchrist and Worcestershire's Shakib Al Hasan with more signings to be formalised before the season starts.