HAMPSHIRE start life back in the county championship first division with a home match against Gloucestershire on April 13.
New signings Kevin Pietersen and Richard Logan could return to Trent Bridge to play former county Nottinghamshire before the start of the Ashes series in the first week of June.
But current champions Warwickshire do not visit the Rose Bowl until the end of August.
For many, the highlight of the 2005 season will be the Twenty20 matches. Next summer will see the competition increased so each county play their group rivals home AND away.
It means that Middlesex, Sussex, Kent and Essex will all play Twenty20 matches at the Rose Bowl, with the group stage increased to eight matches per county and the top two qualifying for the quarter finals.
Hampshire begin the other knock out competition, the C & G Trophy, six weeks earlier with a trip to minor county Shropshire at the beginning of May.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article