County winners Yorkshire will start the defence of the title at New Road against encouraged Worcestershire to the opening day of the 2015 season.
The new effort begins on Sunday, April 12, with eight matches over both divisions. Division Two winners Hampshire host Sussex in Southampton while Somerset take on Durham in Taunton and 2014 runnersup Nottinghamshire journey to Lord’s to confront Middlesex.
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Durham seam bowler Graham Onions has been granted a benefit year by the county in 2015.
The 32-year old came through the academy at Chester Le Street prior to making his first class introduction in April 2004.
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Ben Dunk and Nathan Reardon have been included in Australia’s squad for the Twenty20 series against South Africa in November.
The duo are named in a 13-man party that also contains Shane Watson, with the all-rounder set to make his international comeback from injury having not featured for his country since April.
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Lancashire have appointed former England spinner Ashley Giles as their new cricket director and head coach.
Giles, who has been out of work since leaving his post as head coach of England’s limited-overs squads in April following the appointment of Peter Moores, replaces Mike Watkinson at Old Trafford.
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Middlesex have cancelled the final year of all-rounder Gareth Berg’s contract.
This year the 33-year-old has been fit to play in just one first-team match, an LV=CC game against Nottinghamshire in April.
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New Zealand allrounder Jesse Ryder has signed a fresh two-year deal with Essex, keeping him at the team until 2016.
The 30-year old, that has played 18 Tests for the Kiwis, joined the county on a one-year contract in April and has enjoyed a productive first season, scoring 1,196 runs across all three formats and taking 43 wickets in the County Championship alone.
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