LANCASHIRE start their bid for an immediate return to the LV= County Championship’s Division One away at Derbyshire on Sunday, April 19.

The Red Rose county miss the opening round of Division Two fixtures a week earlier, although they do play a three-day friendly against Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities at Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday 12.

Ashley Giles’ side face a particularly busy May, including five Championship matches and three NatWest T20 Blast matches.

They end the season against Essex at Chelmsford, starting Tuesday, September 22.

Upon the release of the 2015 county fixtures yesterday, all-rounder Steven Croft set out the county’s aim of gaining promotion as champions as they did in 2013.

“Last time we went up playing some really good cricket,” he said. “We dominated most of the games we won, and we will look to do the same again next season. We want to almost use this season as a stepping stone for the next one.

“We don't want to be going up and down between the divisions. We want to be competitive in Division One the season after next.

“The table doesn't lie, we deserved to go down.

“As a club, we shouldn't be in Division Two, but the stats and the points tell the tale. It is up to us to prove to the fans, to the club and everyone in county cricket that we deserve to be in Division One.

“The best way to do that is to go up as champions, then the following season compete in the top flight.

“There are no games we will take lightly in that division. Like a couple of years ago, we want to start well and set out some markers. I think everyone will be out to beat us being the team we are.”

Lancashire have opted to play their only Championship home out-ground match at Southport and Birkdale, against Derbyshire on Sunday May 24.

They will also play Royal London one-day Cup matches against Middlesex at Blackpool on Wednesday July 29 and Nottinghamshire at Liverpool on Tuesday August 4.

The return to Blackpool for the first time since 2011 will be a proud moment for Croft, who is on the committee at the Stanley Park club.

“It will be really good playing there again,” he added. “The last time I did for Lancashire I scored a century, and it was great to have all my friends and family there.”

FIXTURES

April

Sun 12 – Tues 14 – 3 days, Lancashire v Leeds/Bradford MCCU, Emirates Old Trafford, UNI.

Sun 19 – Wed 22 – four days, Derbyshire v Lancashire, The 3aaa County Ground, LVCC2.

Sun 26 – Wed 29 – four days, Lancashire v Kent, Emirates Old Trafford, LVCC2.

May

Sun 3 – Wed 6 – four days, Northamptonshire v Lancashire, Northampton, LVCC2.

Sun 10 – Wed 13 – four days, Lancashire v Gloucestershire, Emirates Old Trafford, LVCC2.

Fri 15 – 1 day, Lancashire v Leicestershire, Emirates Old Trafford, T20.

Sun 17 – Wed 20 – four days, Leicestershire v Lancashire, Grace Road, LVCC2.

Fri 22 – 1 day, Lancashire v Durham, Emirates Old Trafford, T20.

Sun 24 – Wed 27 – four days, Lancashire v Derbyshire, Southport and Birkdale, LVCC2.

Fri 29 – 1 day, Derbyshire v Lancashire, The 3aaa County Ground, T20.

Sun 31 – Wed 3 June – four days, Surrey v Lancashire, Kia Oval, LVCC2.

June

Fri 5 – 1 day, Yorkshire v Lancashire, Headingley, T20.

Sun 7 – Wed 10 – four days, Gloucestershire v Lancashire, Bristol, LVCC2.

Fri 12 – 1 day, Lancashire v Derbyshire, Emirates Old Trafford, T20.

Sun 14 – Wed 17 – four days, Lancashire v Leicestershire, Emirates Old Trafford, LVCC2.

Thurs 18 – 1 day, Lancashire v Worcestershire, Emirates Old Trafford, T20.

Fri 19 – 1 day, Northamptonshire v Lancashire, Northampton, T20.

Thurs 25 – 1 day, Durham v Lancashire, Emirates Durham ICG, T20.

Fri 26 – 1 day, Lancashire v Birmingham Bears, Emirates Old Trafford, T20.

Mon 29 – Thurs 2 July – four days, Lancashire v Northamptonshire, Emirates Old Trafford, LVCC2.

July

Fri 3 – 1 day, Lancashire v Yorkshire, Emirates Old Trafford, T20.

Mon 6 – Thurs 9 – four days, Lancashire v Essex, Emirates Old Trafford, LVCC2.

Fri 10 – 1 day, Leicestershire v Lancashire, Grace Road, T20.

Wed 15 – 1 day, Lancashire v Nottinghamshire, Emirates Old Trafford, T20.

Fri 17 – 1 day, Birmingham Bears v Lancashire, Edgbaston, T20.

Sun 19 – Wed 22 – four days, Glamorgan v Lancashire, Colwyn Bay, LVCC2.

Fri 24 – 1 day, Worcestershire v Lancashire, New Road, T20.

Sun 26 – 1 day, Sussex v Lancashire, Horsham, 50RL.

Mon 27 – 1 day, Essex v Lancashire, Chelmsford, 50RL.

Wed 29 – 1 day, Lancashire v Middlesex, Blackpool, 50RL.

August

Sun 2 – 1 day, Lancashire v Warwickshire, Emirates Old Trafford, 50RL.

Tues 4 – 1 day, Lancashire v Nottinghamshire, Liverpool, 50RL.

Sat 8 – 1 day, Kent v Lancashire, Canterbury, 50RL.

Wed 12 – Fri 14 – T20 quarter-finals.

Mon 17 – 1 day, Hampshire v Lancashire, Ageas Bowl, 50RL.

Wed 19 – 1 day, Lancashire v Glamorgan, Emirates Old Trafford, 50RL.

Fri 21 – Mon 24 – four days, Lancashire v Glamorgan, Emirates Old Trafford, LVCC2.

Tues 25 – Thurs 27 – RL50 quarter-finals.

Sat 29 – T20 Finals Day, Edgbaston.

September

Tues 1 – Fri 4 – four days, Kent v Lancashire, Canterbury, LVCC2.

Sun 6 – Mon 7 – RL50, semi-finals.

Mon 14 – Thurs 17 – four days, Lancashire v Surrey, Emirates Old Trafford, LVCC2.

Sat 19 – RL50, final, Lord’s.

Tues 22 – Fri 25 – four days, Essex v Lancashire, Chelmsford, LVCC2.