LANCASHIRE face the longest and most hectic cricket season on record next year.

The start of the new millennium brings a new look in the domestic programme with seven Tests, a triangular one-day series, and a revamped two divisional county championship. Runners-up in the championship for the last two years, Lancashire will be one of the favourites to top the new First Division.

But a lot will depend on the availability of Muttiah Muralitharan and Andy Flintoff.

Murali, who claimed 66 wickets in a sensational debut season, has resigned for two years, but that depends on Sri Lanka's international commitments and they are currently negotiating with South Africa and Australia.

Flintoff, who has overcome a rocky start to the South African tour, could be one of the England players to earn a central contract, restricting his time with Lancashire.

One of Lancashire's championship matches will be at Liverpool, who will also stage a four-day friendly against New Zealand A.

FIXTURES 2000

PP Healthcare Championship Division One

April 26-29:Kent v Lancs (Canterbury)

May 4-7: Lancs v Leicester (Old Trafford)

May 11-14: Durham v Lancs (Chester-le-Street)

May 24-27: Hants v Lancs (Southampton)

May 31-June 3: Lancs v Derbys (OT)

June 7-10: Derbys v Lancs (Derby)

July 12-15: Somerset v Lancs (Taunton)

July 19-22: Lancs v Durham (to be announced)

July 28-31: Yorks v Lancs (Headingley)

Aug 2-5: Surrey v Lancs (Oval)

Aug 17-20: Lancs v Kent (OT)

Aug 22-25: Leicester v Lancs (Grace Road)

Sept 8-11: Lancs v Somerset (OT) Sept 13-16: Lancs v Surrey (OT)

Benson and Hedges Super Cup

April 15: Lancs v Notts (Trent Bridge)

April 16: Yorks v Lancs (Headingley)

April 18: Durham v Lancs (Chester-le-Street)

April 20: Derbys v Lancs (Derby)

April 24: Lancs v Leicester (OT)

May 9: quarter-finals

May 27 and 28: semis

June 10: Final (Lord's)

CGU National League Division One

April 30: Kent v Lancs (Canterbury)

May 2: Lancs v Leicester (OT)

May 28: Gloucester v Lancs (Bristol)

June 4: Northants v Lancs (Northampton) June 11: Lancs v Worcester (OT)

June 24: Lancs v Northants (OT)

June 27: Lancs v Yorks (OT)

July 16: Somrset v Lancs (Taunton)

July 23: Leicester v Lancs (Grace Road)

Aug 6: Sussex v Lancs (Hove)

Aug 9: Yorks v Lancs (Headingley)

Aug 13: Lancs v Gloucester (OT)

Aug 15: Lancs v Kent (OT)

Sept 3: Worcester v Lancs (New Road)

Sept 6: Lancs v Somerset (OT)

Sept 17: Lancs v Sussex (OT)

NatWest Trophy

June 21: third round (away)

July 5: fourth round

July 25-26: quarter-finals Aug 12-13: semis

Aug 26: Final (Lord's)

Other matches

April 7-9: Cambridge U v Lancs (Fenners)

June 13-16: Lancs v New Zealand A (Liverpool)

Cornhill Insurance Tests

England v Zimbabwe

May 18-22 (Lord's)

June 1-5 (Trent Bridge)

England v West Indies

June 15-19 (Edgbaston)

June 29-July 3 (Lord's)

Aug 3-7 (Old Trafford) Aug 17-21 (Headingley

Aug 31-Sept 4 (Oval)

One-day international series

July 6: West Indies v Zimbabwe (Bristol)

July 8: England v Zimbabwe (Oval)

July 9: England v West Indies (Lord's)

July 11: West Indies v Zimbabwe (Canterbury)

July 13: England v Zimbabwe (OT)

July 15: England v West Indies (Chester-le-Street)

July 16: West Indies v Zimbabwe

(Chester-le-Street)

July 18: England v Zimbabwe (Edgbaston)

July 20: England v West Indies (Trent Bridge)

July 22: Final (Lord's)

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