less than a month to go...

i'm not sure the nation is collectively counting down the seconds until the return of county cricket but i for one, am incredibly excited. after all, what other ways would we rather spend our days in april than watching cricket in arctic conditions with four layers on. after a below par year in 2011, essex fans will be hoping 2012 will bring happier times: a promotion push and an appearance in either or both the CB40 final and in cardiff for twenty20 finals day. after all, what's wrong with hopeless optimism?

LV=county championship: division 2;

APRIL
Thu 05 - Sun 08: Gloucestershire - Chelmsford
Thu 19 - Sun 22: Yorkshire - Headingley Carnegie
Thu 26 - Sun 29: Northamptonshire - Chelmsford

MAY
Wed 02 - Sat 05: Glamorgan - SWALEC Stadium
Wed 09 - Sat 12: Kent - Chelmsford
Wed 16 - Sat 19: Leicestershire - Grace Road
Wed 23 - Sat 26: Derbyshire - Chelmsford

JULY
Wed 11 - Sat 14: Gloucestershire - Cheltenham
Thu 19 - Sun 22: Hampshire - Chelmsford

AUGUST
Wed 01 - Sat 04: Leicestershire - Chelmsford (part of chelmsford festival)
Wed 08 - Sat 11: Kent - Canterbury
Wed 15 - Sat 18: Glamorgan - Colchester
Tue 28 - Fri 31: Derbyshire - Derby

SEPTEMBER
Tue 04 - Fri 07: Hampshire - Rose Bowl
Tue 11 - Fri 14: Yorkshire - Chelmsford


CB40;



MAY

Mon 07: Leicestershire Foxes - Grace Road
Sun 13: Worcestershire Royals - Chelmsford
Sun 20: Lancashire Lightning - Old Trafford
Tue 29: Netherlands - Excelsior CC

JUNE
Mon 04: Gloucestershire Gladiators - Chelmsford

JULY
Sun 15: Gloucestershire Gladiators - Cheltenham
Wed 18: Middlesex Panthers - Chelmsford
Sun 29: Worcestershire Royals - New Road

AUGUST
Sun 05: Leicestershire Foxes - Chelmsford
Sun 19: Netherlands - Colchester
Thu 23: Lancashire Lightning - Chelmsford
Mon 27: Middlesex Panthers - Lord's


friends life twenty20;


JUNE

Wed 13: Surrey Lions - Kia Oval
Wed 20: Kent Spitfires - Chelmsford
Thu 21: Middlesex Panthers - Lord's
Fri 22: Surrey Lions - Chelmsford
Sun 24: Sussex Sharks- Hove
Thu 28: Sussex Sharks - Chelmsford
Fri 29: Hampshire Royals - Chelmsford

JULY

Thu 5: Middlesex Panthers - Chelmsford
Fri 6: Kent Spitfires - Canterbury
Sun 8: Hampshire Royals - Rose Bowl