Cricket-News.Org

The release of the 2007 Fixture List will see Worcestershire CCC go head to head with the ‘big boys’ next season as they look forward to their first ever season in the top division of both League Competitions.

The Liverpool Victoria County Championship will include home and away fixtures against the likes of current County Champions, Sussex, plus Lancashire, Yorkshire, Warwickshire and the only team never to have been relegated, Kent.

The County will also play Warwickshire in each of the four competitions meaning a total of six matches against their local rivals.

The ever-popular Twenty20 Cup keeps its mid- summer schedule in late June. Attendances in this competition rose nationally by 5% last year despite competition from the World Cup so even bigger crowds are anticipated in 2007.

The NatWest Pro40 competition makes a welcome return after proving a great success last season. New Road has been chosen to host the very first game of the competition, as the Royals take on Hampshire Hawks on Friday July 13th.

Chief Executive, Mark Newton, is delighted with the fixture list and says, “Next season really starts now for us as we can put all our plans into the context of a known fixture list. We have a really fast start with 13 days of cricket at New Road in the first three weeks of the season and from then on it is a very balanced home schedule through to September. We are also delighted to be hosting another England ‘A’ game after the success of the match last year against Sri Lanka.”

Newton continued “Cricket is going through a very positive period at the moment as we look forward to the Ashes Series and then the World Cup in the West Indies. There are only 154 days to wait until we start one of the most eagerly anticipated County seasons for years. Tickets for all our home matches are now available online at www.wccc.co.uk and make great Christmas presents.”