The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have this week announced the 2019 Specsavers County Championship, Royal London One-Day Cup and Vitality Blast fixtures.
Hampshire will contest back-to-back home fixtures to begin the season as James Vince’s side host Essex in the opening round of four-day action, beginning on Friday 5th April, before Yorkshire visit the Ageas Bowl on Tuesday 11th April.
Following 2018’s Royal London One-Day Cup triumph, Hampshire’s defence of the 50-over title will then begin on Wednesday 17th April against Kent Spitfires at Canterbury in a repeat of this year’s Lord’s final.
Glamorgan will be the opponents in the opening home fixture of the competition on Friday 19th April, followed by matches against Middlesex (Tuesday 23rd April) and Gloucestershire (Friday 26th April), with all three contests featuring at the Ageas Bowl within the same week.
As in previous years, this year’s 50-over competition is divided into two divisions geographically as Hampshire also take on Somerset, Essex, Surrey and Gloucestershire before Sunday 5th May.
The competition’s quarter-finals and semi-finals will then take place on Friday 10th May and Sunday 12th May respectively, followed by the final which is set to be played at Lord’s for the final time, on Saturday 25th May.
Hampshire’s third Championship home fixture this season will see the side head to the Isle of Wight to take on Nottinghamshire at Newclose, beginning on Monday 20th May. The match, which marks the first first-class fixture to be played on the Isle of Wight since 1962, is to be played away from the Ageas Bowl due to next summer’s ICC Cricket World Cup.
Hampshire Cricket Chairman, Rod Bransgrove said: “Due to the exclusivity period around its ICC World Cup Tournament commitments next season, Hampshire Cricket is required to play a home fixture away from the Ageas Bowl and we are very excited to be staging a debut First Class fixture at Newclose Cricket Ground on the Isle of Wight. Having played Second XI matches there in recent years, we know that Newclose is a fantastic facility, with a good wicket and plenty of space for members and supporters.
“The Club is working with a range of travel partners to ensure that as many of our mainland-based fans as possible will be able to join us for what should be a fantastic fixture. The 4-day match against Nottinghamshire, on 20th-23rd May, is a fitting reward for the hard work of everyone concerned at Newclose and, in particular, the determination and commitment of the late Brian Gardener who would be absolutely thrilled at this outcome.”
It has also been confirmed that the Ageas Bowl will host a four-day tour match between Australia v Australia A on Tuesday 23rd July, ahead of next summer’s Ashes series. This extra fixture will be free for Hampshire Cricket Members as part of their 2019 Membership, with more details to be confirmed in due course.
Information on membership can be found online at www.ageasbowl.com, over the phone on 0844 847 1863 or in person at the Ageas Bowl Ticket Office (Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm).
Hampshire’s 20/20 Vitality Blast home fixtures are as follows:
Friday 19th July: Sussex
Sunday 21st July: Kent
Friday 2nd August: Glamorgan
Friday 9th August: Somerset
Friday 16th August: Surrey
Sunday 25th August: Essex
Thursday 29th August: Middlesex
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