WORCESTERSHIRE are to resume playing Second Eleven Cricket at Stourbridge this summer for the first time in more than two decades.

The County are taking on Durham in a T20 match on June 6 followed by a three-day Championship match from June 7 to 9.

It follows on from eight days Academy cricket being played at Stourbridge CC last summer in the form of one three-day game, two two-day matches and one one-dayer.

The county are keen to reignite strong links with the Black Country including Stourbridge where they used to play a first class fixture every season for many decades.

Worcestershire played 60 first class matches at Stourbridge between 1905 and 1962,a further one in 1981, plus three List A games in 1969, 1970 and 1982 while Second Eleven Cricket continued there until the early 1990s.

Coach Kevin Sharp's side enjoyed considerable success in the T20 and Second Eleven Trophy (50 over) competitions last season, finishing third in both groups and just missing out on the knockout stages.

The likes of Joe Clarke, Ed Barnard and Brett D'Oliveira also won promotion to the first team while several Academy players were given the chance to show their potential at second team level.

Two of them, paceman Josh Tongue and spinner Ben Twohig, were awarded their first professional contracts with the County.

Worcestershire will launch their Second Eleven Championship programme away to Leicestershire in early May.

The highlight of last summer's Championship campaign was victory over a strong Yorkshire side at Barnt Green.

Two days cricket are scheduled to take place at New Road against Northants in the T20 in May and Nottinghamshire in the Second Eleven Trophy in August.

MARCH 31

Academy Kidderminster F.

APRIL 4

Durham Richmondshire CC F.

5 Durham Richmondshire CC SET.

11,12,13 Somerset Taunton Vale F.

25,26,27 Sussex Kidderminster F.

MAY

3 Leics Kibworth CC T20.

4,5,6 Leics Desborough CC SEC.

10,11,12,13 Warwicks Barnt Green F.

16 Somerset Taunton Vale F T20.

23 Northants New Road T20.

24,25,26 Northants Kidderminster SEC.

30,31,June 1 Gloucs Cheltenham Coll F.

JUNE

2 Warwicks Moseley CC T20.

6 Durham Stourbridge T20.

7,8,9, Durham Stourbridge SEC.

14 Unicorns Kidderminster T20.

15 Unicorns Challow- Childrey SET.

20 Yorks Marske CC T20.

21,22,23 Yorks Scarborough CC SEC.

JULY 4 Derbys 3aaa County Ground SET.

5,6,7 Derbys 3aaa County Ground SEC.

11,12,13 MCCU Kidderminster SEC.

14 T20 FINALS DAY.

25 Lancs RGS Worcester SET.

26,27,28 Lancs RGS Worcester SEC.

AUGUST

1 Notts New Road SET.

2,3,4 Notts RGS Worcester SEC.

10 Warwicks RGS Worcester SET.

15,16,17 Warwicks Barnt Green SEC.

19 SET SEMI-FINALS DAY.

23 North Staffs-South Cheshire League Away F.

25 SET FINAL (26 RESERVE DAY).

30,31 Sept, 1,2 Middx Kidderminster F.

SEPTEMBER

6,7,8,9, SEC FINAL.

12,13,14,15 Hants Ageas Bowl F.

F = Friendly, SET = Second Eleven Trophy, SEC = Second Eleven Championship.