Yorkshire will begin the defence of their County Championship title at home to Hampshire as the domestic first-class game begins a season-long trial in which the away side will be given the option to bowl first.
The champions, who sit out the first round of county matches on 10 April next year after taking on the MCC in Abu Dhabi two weeks earlier, have been vocal critics of the decision to scrap the mandatory coin toss at the start of the games in 2016 in order to encourage better pitches.
Andrew Gale’s side now face the prospect of being put into bat when their season gets under way at Headingley on 17 April, with the toss only taking place should the visiting captain decide against giving his bowlers first use of the surface.
Hampshire, who finished just two points above the relegation zone last season, will host Warwickshire in the opening round of fixtures the week before, with Durham entertaining Somerset at the Riverside and Nottinghamshire welcoming last season’s Division Two champions Surrey to Trent Bridge.
Last season’s runners-up, Middlesex, and newly-promoted Lancashire, will also sit out the first set of fixtures, and will host Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire respectively in the second round that gets under way on 17 April.
Relegated Worcestershire begin life in Division Two at home to Kent on 10 April, with Sussex, who also dropped down from the top flight, travelling to play Northamptonshire. Essex also host Gloucestershire at Chelmsford in this opening round of matches.
The NatWest T20 Blast begins on Friday 20 May with seven matches in total and the holders Lancashire Lightning hosting Derbyshire. Gloucestershire begin their defence of the Royal London Cup away at local rivals Somerset on 5 June.
Following this initial release of fixtures, the full schedule for 2016 will be announced at 9am on Wednesday.
