Sky Sports announces 2012 County Cricket Coverage
Wednesday 18th January 2012
SKY SPORTS will show each county, including Kent, at least three times this summer, with 65 live fixtures from the Clydesdale Bank 40, LV=County Championship and Friends Life t20.
The season starts with a repeat of the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40 final between champions Surrey Lions and Somerset, two of the most dynamic and exciting teams in the game. The Friends Life t20 competition begins when three-time champions Leicestershire Foxes play against local rivals Nottinghamshire Outlaws, who will include former Leicestershire star James Taylor. Two matches from the LV=County Championship will be shown this summer, including the champions Lancashire at Sussex.
The live schedule includes:
Clydesdale Bank 40: Coverage begins on 4 May and features 35 live group matches, including 21 day-nighters, both semi finals and the final live from Lord’s in September. For the first time, Sky Sports will show the Netherlands who play against Gloucestershire in Amstelveen live on 27 July.
Friends Life t20:Friends Life t20 is back to a format of 10 group games with the 18 counties split into three regional groups. Sky Sports will show 25 games live, including 7 day-nighters, all four quarter-finals and for the first time, Finals Day is live from the SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff on 25 August.
LV=County Championship:The first of two matches from the LV=County Championship to be shown live on Sky Sports is Lancashire at Sussex on 9-12 May, which is eight days prior to England’s first Test of the summer. Sky Sports will also cover the final round of matches in September.