After the heartbreak and controversy surrounding the relegation of Middlesex from the Specsavers County Championship Division One in the summer, the club are looking to bounce back at the first opportunity next year.

And they will begin that quest at Lord’s on Friday, April 13 when they will take on Northamptonshire.

Middlesex were relegated on the final day of last season, finishing second from bottom by just one point.

The previous season they had won the title on the last day at Lord’s, but that joy was shortlived.

Northants only just missed out on promotion last season, finishing third in Division Two, so they will give Middlesex a tough test in their opening game.

The first away game will be the following Friday at Derbyshire, before Glamorgan are the visitors on Friday, April 27.

There is no Surrey in their division next year, but Middlesex visit Kent on Monday, June 25, with return fixture on Monday, September 10.

County Championship fixtures

Northants (h) April 13

Derbys (a) April 20

Glamorgan (h) April 27

Sussex (a) May 4

Gloucestershire (h) May 11

Leicestershire (a) June 20

Kent (a) June 25

Warwickshire (h) July 22

Northants (a) August 19

Sussex (h) August 29

Gloucestershire (a) September 4

Kent (h) September 10

Derbyshire (h) September 18

Durham (a) September 24

Meanwhile, Surrey will be one of their opponents in the Royal London Cup which begins in May.

Middlesex will start with a home game against Essex Eagles on May 17, while their first away game will be at Glamorgan on May 23.

They have home games against Kent (May 20), Hampshire (May 30), Surrey (June 3), while they travel to Sussex on May 25, Somerset two days later and Gloucestershire on June 6.

The play-offs for the one day competition is scheduled for June 14 with the final at Lord’s on June 30.

In the T20 Blast there are some mouth watering games scheduled for Lord’s as the team look to make their way into the latter stages of the competition.

Surrey will be the first visitors on Thursday, July 5, with Gloucestershire arriving three days later for a Sunday showdown.

Somerset visit North London on July 19 with Hampsire arriving exactly a week later.

The clash with Sussex Sharks will be on August 2, with Glamorgan arriving on August 5 and Essex Eagles completing the Middlesex home fixtures on Thursday, August 16.