KENT may take county cricket back to Beckenham in 2002 as well as play host to three international sides, it has been announced. The county will start their campaign with three first-class fixtures in Canterbury against Loughborough University Centre of Excellence, newly promoted Hampshire in their opening championship match and then Sri Lanka in a three-day challenge match.

The five Benson & Hedges Cup zonal games are crammed inside eight days at the end of April and the first week of May. Then, at the end of the month, Sussex provide local derby opposition in the championship clash at Tunbridge Wells.

In mid-June Kent hope to play India twice and West Indies A inside three days at St Lawrence, while at the start of July Warwickshire, over four days, and Durham for the Sunday, will take on Kent at The Mote in Maidstone.

The Copers Cope Road ground in Beckenham should return to the fixture list for the first time since 1954 on July 14, redevelopment work permitted, when Kent hope to welcome Worcestershire Royals for a one-day National League fixture.

Warwickshire and Leicestershire play one day games under floodlights at Canterbury in July and August, while Somerset provide the opposition for five days at Canterbury Cricket Week, which starts a little later next year on August 7.

The campaign finishes with back to back championship and national league fixtures against Yorkshire at a new-look Headingley finishing on Sunday September 22.

Kent 2002 Fixtures

April 13-15 friendly Loughborough UCCE Canterbury 3days

April 19-22 Cch Hampshire Canterbury 4days

April 26-28 friendly Sri Lanka Canterbury 3days

April 29 B&H Hampshire West End 1day

May 1 B&H Sussex Canterbury 1day

May 2 B&H Middlesex Canterbury 1day

May 4 B&H Surrey The Oval 1day

May 6 B&H Essex Canterbury 1day

May 8 to 11 Cch Hampshire West End 4days

May 15-18 Cch Yorkshire Canterbury 4days

May 19 NCL Yorkshire Canterbury 1day

May 21 B&H Cup knock-out 1day *

May 29 C&G Norfolk/SomersetCB away 1day

May 31-Jun3 Cch Sussex Tunbridge Wells 4days

Jun 4 NCL Nottinghamshire Tunbridge Wells 1day

June 6 or 7 B&H knock-out 1day*

June 9 NCL Glamorgan Cardiff 1day

June 12 Cch Surrey The Oval 4days

June 16 NCL Nottinghamshire Trent Bridge 1day

June 18 or 19 C&G knock-out 1day*

June 22 B&H Final 1day*

June 22 friendly India Canterbury 1day*

June 23 friendly West Indies A Canterbury 1day*

June 24 friendly India Canterbury 1day*

June 26-29 Cch Lancashire Liverpool 4days

June 30 NCL Warwickshire Edgbaston 1day

July 3-6 Cch Warwickshire Maidstone 4days

July 7 NCL Durham Maidstone 1day

July 10-13 Cch Sussex Hove 4days

July 14 NCL Worcestershire Beckenham 1day V

July 16 or 17 C&G knock-out 1day*

July 19-22 Cch Surrey Canterbury 4days

July 24-27 Cch Leicestershire Grace Road 4days

July 30 NCL Warwickshire Canterbury 1day F

July 31 or August 1 C&G knock-out 1day*

August 3 NCL Durham Riverside 1day

August 4 NCL Leicestershire Grace Road 1day

August 7-10 Cch Somerset Canterbury festival 4days

August 11 NCL Somerset Canterbury 1day

August 14-17 Cch Warwickshire Edgbaston 4days

August 21 NCL Leicestershire Canterbury 1day F

August 22-25 Cch Leicestershire Canterbury 4days

August 31 C&G Trophy Final 1day*

Sep 1 or 2 NCL Worcestershire New Road 1day

September 4-7 Cch Somerset Taunton 4days

September 8 NCL Somerset Taunton 1day

September 11 –14 Cch Lancashire Canterbury 4days

September 15 NCL Glamorgan Canterbury 1day

September 18-21 Yorkshire Headingley 4days

September 22 NCL Yorkshire Headingley 1day

* = Possible fixture to be confirmed. F = floodlight match. V = venue tbc.