With the county cricket fixtures for 2016 announced this morning, county cricket fans, counties, journalists and players have been reacting to who they’ll face when the season rocks back into life.
Middlesex press officer Steven Fletcher:
Woohoo!!! Only 137 days until @Middlesex_CCC‘s County Championship campaign kicks off at @HomeOfCricket v @WarwickshireCCC 🏏😃
— Steven Fletcher (@Steve_Fletcher) December 2, 2015
We begin the @RL_Cricket defence with an away tie against @SomersetCCC on Sunday 5th June! #BringOnSummer pic.twitter.com/KbIuDPAF8A
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) December 2, 2015
The structure of the season is broadly the same as 2015, with a subtle change to the Royal London One-Day Cup scheduling, which will now be played in two blocks, alongside the Natwest t20 Blast.
The 2016 fixtures a holding pattern ahead of 2017, but earlier start to RL Cup is interesting + 32 CC games start in August; was 15 last yr
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) December 2, 2015
Two blocks of white ball cricket in 2016 – with Royal London Cup in first part of week and NatWest T20 Blast in second part
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) December 2, 2015
Comps spread over season but there are two "white-ball only" blocks in the 2016 county schedule. Block 1: Jun 1-18, Block 2: Jul 19 to Aug 2
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) December 2, 2015
I think I prefer these fixtures. More championship games in August. Two blocks for RLODC. But not sure about same groupings for T20 & 50over
— daniel norcross (@norcrosscricket) December 2, 2015
One of the big talking points was Sussex’s decision to ditch the Horsham festival in 2016, the County will still play at Arundel but said commercial pressures meant they couldn’t sustain a second festival, but the move hasn’t been popular.
Only the 2nd time in 34 years there's not been a @SussexCCC festival at @horshamcc. Let's hope it's only a temporary absence
— Stephen Hollis (@stevehollis75) December 2, 2015
Sad that Sussex have had to confirm the Horsham festival won't be taking place this year (despite memories of freezing there in press tent)
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) December 2, 2015
Whilst Sussex are cutting down on outground cricket, Lancashire are increasing it as they also announced a three year deal to stage Championship games at Southport.
NEWS: @LancsCCC sign three year staging agreement with @SNBCC to host Championship fixtures: https://t.co/WJ1BlE9htf pic.twitter.com/Fvxi4lu9m3
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) December 2, 2015
Contrasting fortunes for two outgrounds: no game for Horsham in 2016 but Southport sign staging agreement with Lancashire #countycricket
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) December 2, 2015
@LancsCCC sign three-year staging agreement with S&BCC. Championship cricket to be played at Southport in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
— Paul Edwards (@edwardscricket) December 2, 2015
Northamptonshire may not be playing any home games at outgrounds but will be touring the festivals next year, including Arundel, Scarborough, Chesterfield, Beckenham and Swansea, much to the delight of the local radio commentators.
Plenty of festival cricket for @NorthantsCCC next season: Arundel, Swansea, Chesterfield, Scarborough. Superb!
— Alex Winter (@_alexwinter) December 2, 2015
The fixture list appears fairly, cutting down on some of the ridiculous scheduling that blighted the 2015 season, however there were still a few complaints, with Nottinghamshire having seemingly come out worse off.
Certainties in life: death, taxes and anger at the county fixture list #countycricket
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) December 2, 2015
#Notts Madness in June, Yorks (a), Worcs (a) and Surrey 4 dayer (a) on consecutive days
— Dave Bracegirdle (@bracecricket) December 2, 2015
Durham & Notts play a four-day game at Trent Bridge on 28-31 May, followed by a T20 the following day… in Durham. Bizarre scheduling?!
— Luke Bidwell (@luke_bidwell) December 2, 2015
June looks miserable: 7 Middx games in 11 days & only 1 of those at Lord's – traveling nonstop! Utter farce! Spread out RLODC & block T20!!!
— Kevin Patrick Hand (@KevinHandBBC) December 2, 2015
A T20 in Manchester followed by a champo game in Nottingham the next morning means no time for @DurhamCricket to prepare at @TrentBridge
— Martin Emmerson (@Martycricket) December 2, 2015
2016 will also be a year of Roses battles with Yorkshire and Lancashire set to meet in all three competition, are the two are already looking ahead to those clashes.
ROSES RIVALRY: @LancsCCC will play @YorkshireCCC FIVE times next summer. Find out when – https://t.co/o5gu1wRiBm pic.twitter.com/Iaq2sfsi50
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) December 2, 2015
WATCH: @GaleyLad excited about #Yorkshire defending their title in 2016. #YourYorkshire https://t.co/aTs9nVOWmw
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) December 2, 2015
The decision to allow visiting captains the opportunity to bowl first in the Championship has already caused much debate, something which is likely to continue throughout next season.
County Championship begins April 10. All visiting captains to announce today that they will be bowling.
— The Old Batsman (@theoldbatsman) December 2, 2015
@LancscricketMEN nearly half the Champo fixtures played before end of May! Not sure getting rid of the toss will promote spin bowling!
— Gary Keedy (@keeds23) December 2, 2015
Changes to mandatory coin toss in County Championship 'not the right way to go' – Trescothick https://t.co/7GF6US8jHf
— Will Carpenter (@gazettewillcarp) December 2, 2015
