KENT County Cricket Club begin their 2005 first-class fixtures by welcoming this year’s Frizzell County Champions Warwickshire.

The Bears, who beat David Fulton’s side to this year’s title, travel to the St Lawrence ground in Canterbury on April 20 ensuring a quick return for Alex Loudon, who joined the Bears this close-season, as well as former Kent coach John Inverarity.

Three fixtures have yet to have venues confirmed as talks between Kent and Maidstone Borough Council are still on-going, but early indications are that championship cricket will return to The Mote next summer.

In limited overs’ terms, Canterbury will again host two floodlit games in July and August, while Australia will grace the ground on June 30 for a one-day international with Bangladesh.

Kent’s new county ground in Beckenham will also host two popular Twenty20 games with two others played at St Lawrence as the county hope to cash in on hosting four home cup ties.

KENT FIRST XI FIXTURES 2005

Frizzell County Championship (4 day)

20 April Warwickshire………….......Canterbury

27 April Gloucestershire………….........Bristol

11 May Hampshire………………….Canterbury

20 May Nottinghamshire……………...Trent Bridge

25 May Surrey………………………. Tunbridge Wells

1 June Gloucestershire…………… Home - venue tbc

8 June Glamorgan……………………Sophia Gardens

15 June Warwickshire……………........ Edgbaston

10 July Sussex………………………..Canterbury

20 July Surrey……………………........ Guildford

3 Aug Glamorgan………………….Canterbury

12 Aug Hampshire…………………… Rose Bowl

24 Aug Middlesex………………....... Canterbury

7 Sept Middlesex……………………..Lord’s

14 Sept Nottinghamshire…………..Canterbury

21 Sept Sussex……………………........Hove

totesport League

17 April Derbyshire………………......... Derby

24 April Leicestershire………….......Canterbury

1 May Warwickshire……………........ Edgbaston

8 May Scotland……………………… The Grange

29 May Durham…………………….. Tunbridge Wells

5 June Derbyshire…………………. Home - venue tbc

12 June Somerset…………………........Bath

8 July Sussex……………………........ Hove

24 July Somerset………………....... Canterbury

27 July Warwickshire…………....... Canterbury - floodlit

31 July Yorkshire……………………...Headingley

7 Aug Surrey………………………. Canterbury

22 Aug Surrey……………………........ Brit Oval

30 Aug Yorkshire………………....... Canterbury - floodlit

1 Sept Scotland……………………. Canterbury

4 Sept Durham………………………. Riverside

18 Sept Sussex………………………. Canterbury

25 Sept Leicestershire……………........ Grace Road

Twenty20

22 June Surrey………………………. Beckenham

24 June Essex…………………………. Chelmsford

25 June Middlesex…………………... Beckenham

27 June Hampshire…………………… Rose Bowl

29 June Middlesex…………………….. Uxbridge

1 July Surrey……………………........ The Oval

5 July Sussex………………………. Canterbury

6 July Essex……………………....... Canterbury

Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy

3 May Wiltshire……………………... South Wilts CC, Salisbury

17 May Durham or Derby…………… Away

Other Matches

13 April Cardiff UCCE (3 day)…….. Canterbury

30 June Australia v Bangladesh…...Canterbury - NatWest ODI

16 Aug Bangladesh ‘A’ (3 day)…....Home - venue tbc