Hampshire’s Second XI will begin the 2015 season with an ECB T20 double-header against rivals Sussex.

After five friendlies in April, starting with a home game against Southampton Solent University on April 9, Hampshire II play their south-coast rivals in their first competitive matches of the season on May 5.

Hampshire begin their Second Eleven Championship campaign away to Gloucestershire six days later.

Other stand-out fixtures include a four-day match and a 50-over game against MCC Young Cricketers at Newclose, on the Isle of Wight, in July.

Coach Charlie Freeston said: “We have a number of exciting young players coming through so it’s important for their development that they get the opportunity to play at different grounds and different pitches, so the match against Essex in Basingstoke is certainly one I’m looking forward to.”

Hampshire’s first team begin their season against Sussex at The Ageas Bowl on April 12.

APRIL

9 Solent University (h) Fr

12 Dorset (Dean Park) Fr

13 -15 Somerset (Taunton Vale) Fr

20-23 Surrey (h) Fr

27-30 Middlesex, (Radlett) Fr

MAY

5 Sussex (Hove) T20

11-13 Gloucestershire (tbc) SEC

14 Gloucestershire (tbc) T20

18-20 Middlesex (h) SEC

21 Middlesex (h) T20

26 MCC YC (h) T20

JUNE

1-3 Surrey (Wimbledon CC) SEC

5 Army (Aldershot) Fr

8 Somerset (Taunton Vale) Fr

10-11 Elite International Cricket Academy (Newclose, IoW) Fr

16 Surrey (Purley) T20

24 Somerset (Taunton Vale) T20

26 Essex (h) SET

30 Royal Navy (h) Fr

JULY

6 Sussex (h) SET

7-9 Sussex (h) SEC

16 TBC Arundel T20

21 MCC YC (Newclose, IoW) SET

22-24 MCC YC (Newclose, IoW) SEC

28 Glamorgan (h) SET

29-31 Glamorgan (h) SEC

AUGUST

3-5 Kent (Polo Farm, Canterbury) SEC

6 Kent (Polo Farm, Canterbury) SET

11-13 Elite International Cricket Academy (EICA) (h) Fr

17-19 Somerset (Taunton Vale) SEC

24-26 Essex (Basingstoke) SEC

SEPTEMBER

9-11 Sussex (Blackstone, West Sussex) Fr

14-17 Worcestershire (Kidderminster) Fr

 

Key

(h) - The Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground (other venues in brackets)

Fr – Friendly

T20 – ECB T20 ko (x2)

SEC – Second Eleven Championship

SET – Second Eleven Trophy