Kent County Cricket Club have confirmed that they will be hosting a three day match against South Africa at the St Lawrence Ground in mid-July 2012.

ECB today announced the full 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.

Kent Cricket 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.”

The full schedule has been confirmed as:
West Indies to UK 2012
Wed 2 May                    West Indies arrive

Sat 5 – Mon 7 May          3-day match v Sussex              Hove

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 Leicestershire   Grace Road

Thu 7 – Mon 11 June       3rd Test Match                         Edgbaston

Wed 13 June                  50-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. T20                       Trent Bridge

Mon 25 June                 West 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

Tue 10 July                   5th NatWest ODI (D/N)               Old Trafford

Wed 11 July                  Australia Team departs

 

South Africa to 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 Kent                Canterbury

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

Fri 31 Aug                     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 8 Sept                    1st NatWest Int. T20                  Emirates Durham ICG

Mon 10 Sept                 2nd NatWest Int. T20 (F)            Old Trafford

Wed 12 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 25th: Friends Life t20 Finals day at The SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff

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

 

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