Leicestershire County Cricket Club has announced that both the West Indies and New Zealand will play Leicestershire at Grace Road in 2000.

The West Indies will visit Grace Road on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 28th, 29th and 30th whilst New Zealand 'A' will play a one day match versus the County on Sunday June 18th.

Floodlit cricket will return to Grace Road in 2000 on Friday September 8th when Worcestershire including Glenn McGrath will be the visitors.

Leicestershire face a demanding test in the Zonal Rounds of the Benson & Hedges competition with home matches versus Durham and Nottinghamshire and away matches against Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire.

County open their Benson and Hedges and PPP Healthcare County Championship campaigns at Derby which will see an early return for Phillip DeFreitas to his former club.

Away from Grace Road Leicestershire will play Kent during the Canterbury Festival Week and will travel to Guildford to play the reigning County Champions Surrey. There will be floodlit CGU NCL matches at Bristol and Taunton.

Leicestershire Chief Executive David Collier commented: "We requested a return to regular Sunday cricket for our supporters and with exception of the floodlit match at Grace Road and the popular May Bank Holiday fixture all our home CGU NCL matches are scheduled on Sundays. In addition we are hosting two touring teams over weekends and our two home zonal Benson & Hedges matches are scheduled for a Saturday and a Sunday. We are also pleased that we have been able to schedule a floodlit match versus Worcestershire on a Friday night as we do believe this will give more families the opportunity to enjoy the theatre of day/night cricket at Grace Road. We have 21 home days cricket at weekends or on Bank Holiday Monday in 2000 so our supporters will have plenty of opportunity to watch Leicestershire at home."

For further information please contact David Collier 0116 2832128