ECB announce 2005 domestic fixtures
Warwickshire start the season against MCC on April 8
2005 will offer more domestic cricket than ever before as the national summer sport resumes on April 8 and concludes on September 25 2005.
Frizzell county champions Warwickshire will play MCC at Lord’s on Friday April 8 in the traditional season curtain-raiser before their title defence begins in earnest against Glamorgan on Wednesday April 13.
An expanded group phase of the Twenty20 Cup will see Leicestershire begin the defence of their crown on June 22 against Nottinghamshire at Grace Road.
In its inaugural year there were 45 Twenty20 matches which increased to 52 matches in 2004 and will grow again to 79 games in the six weeks leading to the floodlit final at The Brit Oval on July 31.
The expansion of the group stages ensures that all counties are guaranteed four Twenty20 home games. Seven group matches in all will be played under lights at Chelmsford, Hove and Sophia Gardens.
Gloucestershire won the C&G Trophy in 2004
Gloucestershire, who have dominated the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy in recent years, will face Berkshire in the premier knock-out cup competition which resumes on May 3.
Denmark, Holland and Ireland all face first class county opposition that day with Ireland seeking to match their giant-killing exploits of last season by defeating Yorkshire in a home tie.
Glamorgan will be aiming to retain the totesport League title
The totesport League welcomes the Middlesex Crusaders, Worcestershire Royals and Nottinghamshire Outlaws to Division One as Glamorgan’s Dragons aim to retain their dominance of the competition for a second season. Thirty three matches will be played under lights with the final matches ending the season on September 25.
John Carr, ECB Director of Cricket, said: “Domestic cricket is enjoying a well-earned renaissance with talented players, close matches and some of the largest crowds on record supporting the Twenty20 Cup.
“With an exciting international season already announced for 2005 we anticipate a huge rise in the interest around the game as a whole and county cricket can capitalise on this upsurge in a sporting season where cricket will take centre stage.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board thanks its international and domestic sponsors for their support – Vodafone, npower, NatWest, Cheltenham & Gloucester, totesport and Frizzell.
Winners in 2004:
Frizzell County Championship Division One - Warwickshire
Frizzell County Championship Division Two - Nottinghamshire
totesport League Division One - Glamorgan Dragons
totesport League Division Two - Middlesex Crusaders
Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy - Gloucestershire
Twenty20 Cup - Leicestershire Foxes
Frizzell Women’s County Championship - Sussex
You can download a full PDF version of the 2005 fixture list here:
- Fixtures 2005 (70 KB)
