Middlesex County Cricket Club is delighted to announce that the 2016 pre-season domestic fixture calendar has now been finalised.
Whilst the squad have been working hard in winter training since way back in early November, as they put their preparations in place for the long season ahead, they’ll first get the opportunity to actually take to the field in somewhat warmer climes, on a pre-season tour to South Africa. Whilst the exact tour fixture dates and times are still to be finalised, the side will fly to Cape Town, where they will be based for the duration of the trip, between 3 and 18 March 2016. The club will publicise details of the South Africa tour fixtures in the near future.
On the domestic front, the Middlesex side’s first friendly encounter will be against Surrey at the Kia Oval in a three-day match starting on Tuesday 22 March. With top-flight County Championship rivalries now resumed this season, after Surrey’s promotion last season, both sets of fans have two encounters to look forward to in the County Championship, so what better way to kick off the pre-season domestic schedule than with a game against our London rivals?
Next up will be Northamptonshire over three days at Merchant Taylors' School, starting on Tuesday 29 March. The format of this game is still in the balance, as it will either be played out over two days on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a one-day fifty over game scheduled for the Thursday. Or, should the weather intervene on the opening two days, the Thursday will be used as a reserve day and the match will revert to a three-day encounter.
Our third domestic friendly opponents come in the form of Berkshire, who will entertain us in a fifty over game on Sunday 3 April at Falkland Cricket Club in Wash Common, Newbury.
Finally, we head to Chelmsford, where former Middlesex man Chris Silverwood’s Essex will host us at the Essex County Ground over three days, in a red ball clash starting on Monday 4 April and ending on Wednesday 6 April.
The following week, the long wait is over, as Middlesex’s opening first-class encounter of the season gets underway at the Parks against Oxford MCCU.
Pre-season fixture details
22 - 24 March: 3-day Friendly v Surrey - Kia Oval
29 & 30 March: Provisional 2-day Friendly v Northants - Merchant Taylors' School
31 March : Provisional 1-day Friendly v Northants - Merchant Taylors' School
3 April: 1-day Friendly v Berkshire - Falkland CC
4 - 6 April: 3-day Friendly v Essex - Chelmsford
To see a full list of 1st XI Fixtures and to download our 2016 calendar please CLICK HERE.
