Essex County Cricket Club begin their new season on April 15 with an LV County Championship division two home clash against Derbyshire.

The revealing of the 2009 fixtures has shown Mark Pettini’s side will then face Northamptonshire in the Friends Provident Trophy.

A Caribbean flavour will be coming to the Ford County Ground on April 25 when the West Indies arrive for a three-day match against Essex before they face England.

The Eagles’ Twenty20 Cup group programme is split in two next season, with six matches (beginning on May 26) prior to the ICC World Twenty20, held in England, and four more after its completion.

July 25 sees the Friends Provident Trophy Final at Lord’s, with Essex bidding to contest the showpiece occasion for the second year running.

Colchester hosts its annual Festival, starting on August 19, with Surrey the visitors for the four-day game and Worcestershire coming for the Pro40 division one game on the Sunday.

A floodlit NatWest Pro40 clash with the Hampshire Hawks rounds off the one-day season at Chelmsford on September 3.