Kent's 2012 campaign is set for an early start after the release of fixtures for the coming season.

The county's opening LV= County Championship game is a visit to Yorkshire on Thursday, April 5, while the first home game is two weeks later against Gloucestershire at Canterbury.

South Africa's tourists will play a three-day game in Kent from Friday, July 13.

Kent chief executive Jamie Clifford said: "It is pleasing to see a more even spread of home fixtures in the County Championship, with two home matches in April and May, Tunbridge Wells Cricket Festival in June and then matches in Canterbury in July, August and September.

"When the South Africa tour match was confirmed early this year the news was extremely well received, so we anticipate this match will be very popular too.”

The Tunbridge Wells Cricket Festival will feature all three forms of the game for the first time.

Following the extended June Bank Holiday for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Kent will welcome Hampshire in the Championship before a CB40 match against Northamptonshire on Sunday, June 10 and Kent Spitfires’ opening home Friends Life t20 fixture against Sussex two days later.

The 161st annual Canterbury Cricket Week will begin on August 8, with Ladies Day the following day. Kent will compete against Essex in the County Championship, with the Spitfires hosting Derbyshire Falcons in a CB40 game on Sunday August 12.

The Spitfires will start their season on the road, taking on Yorkshire in the CB40 on Sunday, May 6, before facing The Unicorns at Canterbury two weeks later.

Three CB40 games at Canterbury will be played under floodlights, Warwickshire on Friday, June 1, Sussex on Monday, July16 and Yorkshire on Wednesday, August 22.

All three Friends Life t20 matches at Canterbury will be played under floodlights, against Hampshire Royals on Friday, June 15, Middlesex Panthers on Tuesday, June 26 and Essex Eagles on Friday, July 6.

An England Women’s International against India will precede the Spitfires clash with the Panthers.

The venue for the fifth Friends Life t20 fixture, against Surrey on Sunday, June 17, is yet to be confirmed while the club waits on the outcome of the current planning application for the ground, will either be confirmed as Beckenham or moved to an alternative Kent ground.

Mr Clifford added; “I would like to thank members and supporters for their patience during the extensive redevelopments at the St Lawrence Ground.

"We hope you will join us in 2012 to take full advantage of the new facilities. We are pleased with our programme of fixtures and there is something for everyone - from the tradition of the County Championship and our famous cricket festivals, to the excitement of the Friends Life t20, the CB40 campaign and a tour match against South Africa.”

The club has a number of early-bird ticket specials available for online purchase until December 31.