Kent County Cricket Club to host South Africa match in 2012

Kent County Cricket Club is delighted to confirm that they will be hosting a three day match between Kent and South Africa at the St Lawrence Groundin mid-July 2012.

ECB today announced the Major Match schedule for next summer, which will see England host tours by West Indies, Australia and South Africa, and Cardiff’s SWALEC stadium stage the Friends Life t20 Finals day for the first time.

KentCricket CEO,Jamie Clifford commented, “We are delighted to be hosting South Africa next summer. As their final fixture prior to the start of the Test series it promises to be a big occasion. A three day game against one of the top sides in world cricket, in mid-July at the St Lawrence Ground – what could be better.”

West Indies will kick off next summer’s international programme with a three-match Test Series against England to be staged at Lord’s, Trent Bridge and Edgbaston followed by a three-match NatWest Series and a NatWest International T20.

Australia, currently the world’s number one ranked ODI side, are then scheduled to take on their hosts in a five-match NatWest Series before the five day game resumes with Andrew Strauss’s side taking on South Africa in Test Matches at The Kia Oval, Headingley and Lord’s.

England will round off their summer with a One Day International against Scotland in August followed by a five-match NatWest Series and three NatWest International T20 matches against South Africa.

On the domestic front, Cardiff’s SWALEC Stadium will host the Friends Life t20 Finals day for the first time in the history of the competition with Lord’s again playing host to the final of the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition.

ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: “With England looking to maintain its position as the number one side in the ICC’s World Test rankings and also preparing to defend the World T20 title in Sri Lanka next autumn, interest in next summer’s international programme will be intense.

“A record number of people attended this season’s international fixtures and with an exciting summer in prospect again in 2012, we would urge spectators to buy tickets early in order to avoid disappointment.”

West Indies to UK 2012

Wed 2 May West Indies arrive

Sat 5 – Mon 7 May 3-day match v SussexHove

Thu 10 – Sun 13 May 4-day match v England Lions Northampton

Thu 17 – Mon 21 May 1st Test Match Lord’s

Fri 25 – Tue 29 May 2nd Test Match Trent Bridge

Sat 2 – Sun 3 June 2-day match v LeicestershireGrace Road

Thu 7 – Mon 11 June 3rd Test Match Edgbaston

Wed 13 June50-over match v Middlesex Lord’s

Sat 16 June 1st NatWest ODI Rose Bowl

Tue 19 June 2nd NatWest ODI(D/N) Kia Oval

Fri 22 June 3rd NatWest ODI Headingley Carnegie

Sun 24 June NatWest Int. T20Trent Bridge

Mon 25 JuneWest Indies depart

Australia to UK 2012

Sun 17 June Australia Team arrives

Thu 21 June 50-over match v Leicestershire Grace Road

Sat 23 June ODI v Ireland Stormont, Belfast

Tue 26 June 50-over match v Essex (D/N) Chelmsford

Fri 29 June 1st NatWest ODI Lord's

Sun 1 July 2nd NatWest ODI Kia Oval

Wed 4 July 3rd NatWest ODI (D/N) Edgbaston

Sat 7 July 4th NatWest ODI Emirates Durham ICG

Tue10July 5th NatWest ODI(D/N) Old Trafford

Wed 11July Australia Team departs

South Africato UK 2012

Thu 5 or Fri 6 July South Africa arrive

Mon 9-Tue 10 July 2-day match v Somerset Taunton

Fri 13-Sun 15 July 3-day match v KentCanterbury

Thu 19-Mon 23 July 1st Test Match Kia Oval

Fri 27-Sat 28 July 2-day match v Worcestershire New Road, Worcester

Thu 2-Mon 6 Aug 2nd Test Match Headingley Carnegie

Fri 10-Sat 11 Aug 2-day match v Derbyshire Derby

Thu 16-Mon 20 Aug 3rd Test Match Lord's

Wed 22 Aug 50-over match v Gloucs. Bristol

Fri 24 Aug 1st NatWest ODI SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff

Tue 28Aug 2nd NatWest ODI(D/N) Rose Bowl

Fri 31Aug 3rd NatWest ODI(D/N) Kia Oval

Sun 2 Sept 4th NatWest ODI Lord's

Wed 5 Sept 5th NatWest ODI (D/N)Trent Bridge

Sat 8Sept 1st NatWest Int. T20 Emirates Durham ICG

Mon10 Sept 2nd NatWest Int. T20 (F) Old Trafford

Wed12 Sept 3rd NatWest Int. T20 (F) Edgbaston

Thu 13 Sept South Africa Team departs for ICC World T20

Sun August 12 Scotland v England Venue tbc

Major Domestic Finals:

Sat August 25^th: Friends Life t20 Finals day at The SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff

Sat Sept 15^th: Clydesdale Bank 40 Final at Lord’s

** D/N = day/night match, F = full match played under floodlights.

Photo by Sarah Ansell SarahCanterbury.com