AFTER starting next season at home to fellow relegation victims, Nottinghamshire, Durham will immediately start to feel the effects of their unwelcome demotion.

Last season they played all but two of their Specsavers County Championship matches on Test grounds. This time they will be travelling to such outposts as Swansea and Chesterfield.

The fact that Canterbury, Hove and Worcester are also on the four-day list will be welcomed by some fans keen to wallow in a bit of nostalgia.

But they will again have cause to wonder why the ECB encouraged the expensive creation of the Emirates Riverside stadium when they realise there is no championship cricket there between June 29 and August 28.

As they attempt to overhaul the 48-point deficit which came as part of their punishment by the ECB, Durham need a good start and the visit of Nottinghamshire is followed by a trip to Bristol.

After that, starting on April 27, comes a run of eight 50-over matches in the Royal London Cup, which is a throwback to the days of early season Benson and Hedges matches.

Then Durham have one day off between four-day matches at Hove and Swansea, the scene of Garry Sobers' six sixes in an over.

Durham's only previous championship match there was in 1995, when they knocked off 343 to win by six wickets with Darren Blenkiron making 145.

Chesterfield, where they start on July 3, was also the scene of a memorable Durham win in 1994, when they amassed 625 for six against an attack featuring Devon Malcolm, Dominic Cork and Phil DeFreitas.

The fact that division two has been increased to ten teams while the number of championship matches has been reduced from 16 to 14 means not all teams play each other home and away.

Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire are the two Durham will not visit, while Gloucestershire and Leicestershire will not come to Riverside.

Durham CCC Fixtures 2017

Friday, April 07, 2017
Durham v Durham MCCU
Emirates
Riverside
UNI

Friday, April 14, 2017
Durham v Nottinghamshire
Emirates Riverside
CC 2

Friday, April 21, 2017
Gloucestershire v Durham
The Brightside Ground, Bristol
CC 2

Thursday, April 27, 2017
Durham v Derbyshire
Emirates Riverside
50L

Monday, May 01, 2017
Warwickshire v Durham
Edgbaston
50L

Wednesday, May 03, 2017
Yorkshire v Durham
Headingley
50L

Friday, May 05, 2017
Durham v Leicestershire
Emirates Riverside
50L

Sunday, May 07, 2017
Durham v Northamptonshire
Emirates Riverside
50L

Thursday, May 11, 2017
Nottinghamshire v Durham
Trent Bridge
50L

Sunday, May 14, 2017
Worcestershire v Durham
New Road
50L

Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Durham v Lancashire
Emirates Riverside
50L

Sunday, May 21, 2017
Sussex v Durham
The 1st Central County Ground
CC 2

Friday, May 26, 2017
Glamorgan v Durham
Swansea
CC 2

Friday, June 02, 2017
Durham v Northamptonshire
Emirates Riverside
CC 2

Thursday, June 08, 2017
Kent v Durham
Canterbury
CC 2

Monday, June 19, 2017
Durham v Glamorgan
Emirates Riverside
CC 2

Monday, June 26, 2017
Durham v Worcestershire
Emirates Riverside
CC 2

Monday, July 03, 2017
Derbyshire v Durham
Chesterfield
CC 2

Friday, July 07, 2017
Durham v Lancashire
Emirates Riverside
T20

Sunday, July 09, 2017
Durham v Northamptonshire
Emirates Riverside
T20

Thursday, July 20, 2017
Durham v Leicestershire
Emirates Riverside
T20

Sunday, July 23, 2017
Lancashire v Durham
Emirates Old Trafford
T20

Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Durham v Nottinghamshire
Emirates Riverside
T20

Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Yorkshire v Durham
Headingley
T20

Friday, July 28, 2017
Leicestershire v Durham
The Fischer County Ground, Grace Road
T20

Sunday, July 30, 2017
Worcestershire v Durham
New Road
T20

Friday, August 04, 2017
Durham v Yorkshire
Emirates Riverside
T20

Saturday, August 05, 2017
Nottinghamshire v Durham
Trent Bridge
T20

Sunday, August 06, 2017
Leicestershire v Durham
The Fischer County Ground, Grace Road
CC 2

Friday, August 11, 2017
Durham v Worcestershire
Emirates Riverside
T20

Sunday, August 13, 2017
Durham v Birmingham Bears
Emirates Riverside
T20

Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Derbyshire v Durham
The 3aaa County Ground
T20

Friday, August 18, 2017
Northamptonshire v Durham
Northampton
T20

Monday, August 28, 2017
Durham v Derbyshire
Emirates Riverside
CC 2

Tuesday, September 05, 2017
Durham v Kent
Emirates Riverside
CC 2

Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Durham v Sussex
Emirates Riverside
CC 2

Monday, September 25, 2017
Worcestershire v Durham
New Road
CC 2