YORKSHIRE’S bid to regain the Specsavers County Championship title next year begins against Hampshire at Headingley on Friday April 7.

The ECB’s new look schedule was released at midnight, with the introduction of a round of floodlit Championship matches in late June designed to give England’s players a chance to play with the pink ball ahead of their August Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston.

Yorkshire host Surrey at Headingley, starting on Monday June 26.

“I think the day/night games are a good initiative, and we’re really pleased to be hosting one at Headingley, especially against Surrey,” said first-team coach Andrew Gale.

“There’s a good chance we’ll be seeing a few of our England players next season, for the day/night game to give them some experience of the conditions and the pink balls, and maybe in the early Championship matches as well.

“With our England guys playing against Surrey, and people able to come in the evening after school or work, hopefully the crowds will roll in as they have done for Test cricket.”

Yorkshire have three Championship matches before England’s first international of the summer, a one-day international against Ireland on May 5.

They also have eight Championship matches before England’s first Test against South Africa on July 6.

Yorkshire’s two Roses Championship matches against Lancashire take place at Emirates Old Trafford and Headingley, starting on Friday May 19 and Friday June 2 respectively.

“As a Yorkshireman, you always look for the Lancashire games first,” continued Gale. “They’re always good games to play in.

“Then I’d look at the first game to see where you’re playing, how cold it’s going to be and the team you’re up against.

“We had Hampshire in our first game last year as well. It was a high-scoring draw, and they showed they’re a good side on their day and not to be underestimated.

“It will be quite weird for me next year for that first game at Headingley, not having to be nervous or putting the pads on or wondering what to do at the toss.

“But, as I said when the appointment was announced, I’m excited about the new role.

“For the moment, it’s a lot of planning around the skill sessions the players will be doing after Christmas and looking at the fixtures.”

Yorkshire’s two Championship matches at Scarborough are against Somerset on Monday July 3 and against Essex on Sunday August 6.

They also face champions Middlesex at Lord’s on Monday June 19 and at Headingley on Tuesday September 5.

Despite the Championship competition being cut from 16 matches to 14 in 2017, Yorkshire’s campaign starts 10 days earlier than last summer and finishes five days later on September 28.

Their final round fixture is against newly promoted Essex at Chelmsford on Monday 25.

Yorkshire begin both limited overs competitions against Nottinghamshire.

They travel to Trent Bridge for the start of the Royal London one-day Cup on Saturday April 29 and host the Outlaws in the NatWest T20 Blast opener on Friday July 7.

The majority of the RL50 competition takes place through May with the final at Lord’s on Saturday July 1. The Blast runs through July and August, although Finals Day is at Edgbaston on Saturday September 2.

Yorkshire’s first six Championship matches all begin on Fridays, while there is no four-day cricket at Headingley in July and August.

FULL FIXTURE LIST 2017

April

Sun 2-Tues 4: Yorks v Leeds/B MCCU, Friendly, Headingley

Fri 7-Mon 10: Yorks v Hampshire, CC, Headingley

Fri 14-Mon 17: Warwickshire v Yorks, CC, Edgbaston

Fri 21-Mon 24: Hampshire v Yorks, CC, Ageas Bowl

Sat 29: Nottinghamshire v Yorks, RL50, Trent Bridge

May

Mon 1: Yorks v Lancs, RL50, Headingley

Wed 3: Yorks v Durham, RL50, Headingley

Fri 5: Worcestershire v Yorks, RL50, New Road

Sun 7: Yorks v Derbyshire, RL50, Headingley

Wed 10: Northamptonshire v Yorks, RL50, Wantage Road

Sun 14: Warwickshire v Yorks, RL50, Edgbaston

Tues 16: Yorks v Leicestershire, RL50, Headingley, FT

Fri 19-Mon 22: Lancs v Yorks, CC, EOT

Sat 27: Yorks v South Africa A, F, Headingley

June

Fri 2-Mon 5: Yorks v Lancs, CC, Headingley

Fri 9-Mon 12: Somerset v Yorks, CC, Taunton

Tues 13: RL50 QF

Fri 16/Sat 17: RL50 SF

Mon 19-Thurs 23: Middlesex v Yorks, CC, Lord’s

Mon 26-Thurs 29: Yorks v Surrey, CC, Headingley, FT

July

Sat 1: RL50 F, Lord’s

Mon 3 - Thurs 6: Yorks v Somerset, CC, Scarborough

Fri 7: Yorks v Nottinghamshire, T20, Headingley, FT

Sat 8: Derbyshire v Yorks, T20, Chesterfield

Tues 11: Northamptonshire v Yorks, T20, Wantage Road, FT

Fri 14: Lancs v Yorks, T20, EOT, FT

Fri 21: Yorks v Birmingham, T20, Headingley, FT

Sun 23: Yorks v Worcestershire, T20, Headingley

Wed 26: Yorks v Durham, T20, Headingley, FT

Fri 28: Birmingham v Yorks, T20, Edgbaston, FT

Sun 30: Nottinghamshire v Yorks, T20, Trent Bridge

August

Thurs 3: Yorks v Derbyshire, T20, Headingley, FT

Fri 4: Durham v Yorks, T20, ER, FT

Sun 6: Wed 9 - Yorks v Essex, CC, Scarborough

Fri 11: Yorks v Lancs, T20, Headingley, FT

Sat 12: Leicestershire v Yorks, T20, Grace Road

Thurs 17: Yorks v Northamptonshire, T20, Headingley, FT

Tues 22-Fri 25: T20 QF

September

Sat 2: T20 Finals Day, Edgbaston

Tues 5-Fri 8: Yorks v Middlesex, CC, Headingley

Tues 12-Fri 15: Surrey v Yorks, CC, Oval

Tues 19-Fri 22: Yorks v Warwickshire, CC, Headingley

Mon 25-Thurs 28: Essex v Yorks, CC, Chelmsford

FT: floodlit