THE first-class cricket fixtures for the 2024 season have been released with Somerset playing their first two championship matches away.

The Cidermen open their account with a journey to Canterbury to take on Kent starting on Friday, April 5, which is followed a week later with a match against reigning championship title holders Surrey at the Oval on April 12. Somerset have not started well in recent years and these two fixtures both look to be tough assignments.

They then return to Taunton to play their first home match of the season when they entertain Nottinghamshire on Friday, April 19, where new signing, former England fast bowler Jake Ball will get the chance to bowl against his former club.

In 2023 Somerset lifted the Vitality Blast T20 Trophy after beating Essex on that never to be forgotten day at Edgbaston in July and they commence their defence of the title when reprise that fixture at Taunton on Friday, May 31.

On that same day before the Somerset match Western Storm will be playing Sunrisers, the first of several Storm fixtures at Taunton through the summer months.

Earlier that same week on Sunday, May 31, England Women are playing their Pakistan counterparts in a One Day International at Taunton.

Somerset’s opening match in the 50 over competition is against Kent at Taunton on Friday, July 26.

In 2024 the quarter finals of the Vitality Blast are due to be played later this year, after The Hundred, during the week starting September 2 while the T20 Finals Day is taking place at Edgbaston on Saturday, September 14.

The final of the 50 over one day competition is to be played at Trent Bridge on Sunday, September 22, while Somerset round off their championship season with a home match against Hampshire starting on Thursday, September 26.

For a full list of the Somerset CCC fixtures log onto www.somersetcountycc.co.uk.