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Yorkshire begin defence at New Road

Yorkshire will begin the defence of their County Championship title at New Road in 2015 as Worcestershire face the toughest of starts to life back in Division One.

Yorkshire spray the champagne after winning the County Championship, Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire, County Championship, Division One, Trent Bridge, September 12, 2014

Yorkshire will begin their title defence at newly-promoted Worcestershire  •  Getty Images

Yorkshire will begin the defence of their County Championship title at New Road in 2015 as Worcestershire, in their 150th anniversary year, face the toughest of starts to life back in Division One.

Yorkshire were comfortably the best team in the country last season and they will hope to lift consecutive titles at Headingley in the final round of the season, beginning on Tuesday September 22, where they entertain Sussex.

The 2015 calendar mirrors last season with County Championship matches largely beginning on a Sunday with the first round of matches scheduled for April 12. They will be proceeded by the Champion County match, between Yorkshire and MCC, in Abu Dhabi from March 22.

Newly promoted Hampshire will start their first campaign back in Division One for the first time since 2010 at home to Sussex. While relegated Lancashire can plot their immediate promotion from Derbyshire - their first fixture in the second round of the season.

The NatWest T20 Blast is again spread across May, June and July, played primarily on Friday nights. The first round of matches is on May 15 with Finals Day back at Edgbaston on Saturday August 29. Warwickshire's title defence begins with a difficult trip to Trent Bridge.

A dedicated window is once more set aside for 50-over cricket where three weeks from July 26 are largely dedicated to long-form white-ball cricket. The showpiece Lord's final is once again late in the season on September 19.

Festival grounds continue to make an appearance on the calendar with favourites such as Cheltenham and Scarborough continuing to attract plenty of matches. Lancashire will also return to Southport for just their third first-class match this century.

First XI cricket will also find a new part of the country in 2015 with Nottinghamshire taking T20 matches to Welbeck Colliery CC in the small village of Sookholme, north of Mansfield.

For a full fixture list, click here

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