Wednesday, September 28th, 2016

New Road To Host England Lions-South Africa Three Day Fixture

New Road To Host England Lions-South Africa Three Day Fixture

Worcestershire CCC can look forward to more international cricket being staged at New Road next summer with England Lions taking on the full South African side in a three-day fixture.

The match will take place at the County's headquarters from Thursday June 29 to Saturday July 1.

It could offer supporters the opportunity to see Worcestershire batsman Joe Clarke in action against the tourists.

He has again been called into the Lions squad for their programme this winter after appearing last winter against Pakistan 'A' in the UAE and this summer versus the same opponents and Sri Lanka 'A'.

The game is also South Africa's final fixture ahead of the Investec Test Series against England and the battle will be on for places in the side for the first Test at Lord's the following week.

Worcestershire CEO Tom Scott said: "It is always a feather in the cap of the county when we stage international cricket and it is a much welcome addition for supporters and members to go alongside the regular county fixtures.

"We have held a number of international games involving either ourselves, the tourists, England Women, England Lions and England Under-19s in recent seasons and this will be another eagerly awaited fixture.

"The Lions have played an exciting brand of cricket and it will be an added bonus to our supporters if Joe Clarke is part of the set-up."

The ECB today announced the full international programme for 2017 which will see ten different counties hosting tour matches and England Lions taking on international opposition in both red and white-ball cricket.

Sussex and Northamptonshire will each host South Africa in one-day warm-up games ahead of the three-match Royal London One-Day International series against England.

Leicestershire are also set for a T20 tour match against the same opposition subject to South Africa not being involved in the ICC Champions Trophy final.

Later in the season, Essex, Kent and Derbyshire will each stage three-day tour matches against West Indies as part of the tourists’ build-up to a three match Investec Test Series against England.

Leicestershire will also host the tourists in a two-day tour match if not involved in NatWest Blast T20 Finals’ Day.

ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison said: “We’re very pleased to have agreed such a comprehensive touring programme for 2017 – a schedule which will provide fans with even more opportunities to see two international teams in action at county grounds; and help our Lions players test themselves against high quality opposition in both red and white-ball cricket.

“With this country also hosting the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Women’s World Cup next season, 2017 promises to be a hugely exciting summer of cricket – and a strong platform to promote our sport to an even wider and more diverse audience.”

2017 MAJOR MATCH DATES

England v Ireland Royal London ODIs

Fri 5 May 1st Royal London ODI The Brightside Ground, Bristol

Sun 7 May 2nd Royal London ODI Lord’s

SOUTHAFRICA TOUR TO UK

Fri 19 May 1-day Tour matcH v Sussex (D/N) 1st Central County Ground, Hove

Sun 21 May 1-day Tour match v Northants Northampton

Wed 24 May 1st Royal London ODI (D/N) Headingley

Sat 27 May 2nd Royal London ODI Ageas Bowl

Mon 29 May 3rd Royal London ODI Lord’s

Thu 1 – Mon 19 June ICC Champions Trophy

Sun 18 June *T20 Tour match v Leicestershire* Grace Road

Wed 21 June 1st NatWest IT20 (f) Ageas Bowl

Fri 23 June 2nd NatWest IT20 The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

Sun 25 June 3rd NatWest IT20 SSE SWALEC, Cardiff

29 June-1 July 3-day v England Lions New Road

Thu 6-Mon 10 July 1st Investec Test Lord’s

Fri 14-Tue 18 July 2nd Investec Test Trent Bridge

Thu 27-Mon 31 July 3rd Investec Test Kia Oval

Fri 4-Tue 8 Aug 4th Investec Test Emirates Old Trafford

Notes: * match cancelled if South Africa qualifies for ICC Champions Trophy Final. All tour matches to be played 11-a-side with official status

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WEST INDIES TOUR TO UK

Tue 1-Thu 3 Aug     3-day Tour match v Essex    Chelmsford

Sun 6-Tue 8 Aug     3-day Tour match v Kent       The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury

Fri 11-Sun 13 Aug    3-day Tour match v Derbyshire   The 3aaa County Ground, Derby

Thu 17-Mon 21 Aug   1st Investec Test   Edgbaston

Fri 25-Tue 29 Aug    2nd Investec Test   Headingley

Sat 2-Sun 3 Sept   +2-day tour match v Leicestershire+    The Fischer County Ground, Grace Road

Thu 7-Mon 11 Sept   3rd Investec Test   Lord’s

Wed 13 Sept     ODI v Ireland   Venue tbc

Sat 16 Sept    NatWest IT20 (f)    Emirates Riverside

Tue 19 Sept    1st Royal London ODI (D/N)    Emirates Old Trafford

Thu 21 Sept    2nd Royal London ODI (D/N)   Trent Bridge Sun 24 Sept

3rd Royal London ODI     The Brightside Ground, Bristol

Wed 27 Sept  4th Royal London ODI (D/N)  Kia Oval

Fri 29 Sept   5th Royal London ODI (D/N)    Ageas Bowl

Note: + match played against an ECB XI if the County qualifies for T20 Finals’ Day

All tour matches to be played 11-a-side with three-day games having First Class status

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DOMESTIC FINALS  

Sat 1 July    Royal London One-Day Cup Final   Lord’s

Sat 2 Sept   NatWest T20 Blast Finals’ Day  Edgbaston

Note: both Domestic Finals have one reserve day allocated

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SOUTH AFRICA 'A' TOUR TO UK

Sat 27 May   1-day v Yorkshire   Headingley

Mon 29 May  1-day v Derbyshire  The 3aaa County Ground, Derby

Thu 1 June   1st A ODI v England Lions  Trent Bridge

Sat 3 June     2nd A ODI v England Lions  Northampton

Mon 5 June   3rd A ODI v England Lions (D/N)   Northampton

8-11 June      4-day v    Hampshire   Ageas Bowl

14-17 June   4-day v Sussex  Arundel (v Duke of Norfolk XI if Sussex in RL play-offs)

21-24 June   ‘A’ Test v Lions  The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury