England: Champions will start at Essex (18 November 1998 )

18 November 1998

England: Champions will start at Essex

By William Gray

LEICESTERSHIRE will begin the defence of their County Championship title at Essex next year.

The fixture list for the 1999 season, released by the England and Wales Cricket Board today, sends the reigning champions to Chelmsford on April 13, with last season's runners-up, Lancashire, at home to Sussex.

The new one-day competition, the two-division National League which replaces the AXA League, starts four days later when Leicestershire return to Grace Road for a floodlit fixture against Hampshire.

One-day champions Lancashire begin their title defence in the new National League Premier Division on April 18. The First Division commences the same day, with Durham taking on Surrey and Middlesex meeting Nottinghamshire.

There will be 15 floodlit matches in the 45-over competition with Leicestershire, Durham, Somerset and Worcestershire due to stage inaugural day-night matches.

The top eight teams from last season's final County Championship table will also compete for the new 50-over, one-day Super Cup which replaces the Benson and Hedges Cup.

Meanwhile, the NatWest Trophy has been expanded to include 60 teams and will be played in a new 50-over format, with Denmark and Huntingdonshire included.

Former Lancashire batsman Nick Speak has taken over the vice-captaincy of Durham after John Morris resigned from the position for the second time.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)