NATIONAL COUNTIES CRICKET Key dates for new season
- Details
- Created on Wednesday, 05 April 2023 11:13
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 05 April 2023 21:43
- Published on Wednesday, 05 April 2023 11:13
- Written by PAUL BOLTON National Counties Cricket correspondent
Oxfordshire will begin their defence of their National Counties T20 title with a double-header against Buckinghamshire at Wormsley on Sunday April 16. Oxfordshire lifted the trophy for the first time last season when they beat Cambridgeshire in a tense final at Tring Park.
Oxfordshire’s other matches in Group Four are against Bedfordshire at Dunstable on April 23, Berkshire at Thame on May 1 and Wales NC at Pontarddulais on May 7.
Although captain Jonny Cater, who led Oxfordshire to the National Counties Championship title in 2021, has announced his retirement from red ball cricket he will continue to skipper the county in white ball cricket this season.
Devon will take senior county cricket to another new venue, Cornwood’s Oak Park, where Cornwall will be T20 visitors on May 7.
Cornwall will also be the opposition when Dorset take county cricket to Milton Abbey School near Blandford Forum for the first time on April 30.
The four group winners will progress to T20 Finals Day which will again be held at Tring Park on May 21.
Berkshire’s defence of the 50-overs National Counties Trophy will begin with a home match against Hertfordshire at Henley in Group Two on May 29.
Cumbria, beaten by Berkshire in the last three Trophy finals, begin their campaign with a trip to Brockhampton to face Herefordshire in Group One on May 29.
The Trophy final will again be played at Wormsley on August 27.
Berkshire’s attempt to win the Durant Sport National Counties Championship for the sixth time in seven seasons will begin with a Western Division One match against newly-promoted Devon at the Falkland club in Newbury from July 9 to 11.
Berkshire reclaimed the three-day title from Oxfordshire last season by virtue of their first innings lead over Lincolnshire in a rain-ravaged final at West Bromwich Dartmouth.
This season’s final will again be played at West Bromwich Dartmouth’s centrally-located Sandwell Park ground from September 3 to 6.
Lincolnshire sit out the opening round of Championship matches and will begin their defence of the Eastern Division One title against Suffolk at Sleaford from July 23-25.
Wales NC will take county cricket to the Brymbo club near Wrexham for the first time when Shropshire visit for a cross-border Western Division Two match from July 9 to 11.
It will be the first time that Wales have staged a Championship match at Brymbo and the first such fixture there since 1935 when Denbighshire hosted Lincolnshire in a two-day Minor Counties Championship match.
The 20 National Counties will again face first-class opposition in Showcase fixtures on Sunday July 30 and Tuesday August 1.
Berkshire will have the opportunity to repeat last season’s victory over Middlesex with Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire, who defeated Surrey and Durham respectively, facing Sussex and Derbyshire this time around.
Wales NC will host Warwickshire at the Sudbrook club in Caldicot, the first time that they have played a match at the Mill Lane ground.
Cheshire’s match against Yorkshire will be played at Nantwich as part of that club’s 175th anniversary celebrations.
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