Secretary Rob Cairns admits Cumberland’s cricket team are thrilled to be facing Lancashire in their inaugural National Counties fixture next year.

At Sedbergh School on July 17, the Cumbrians will take on the Red Rose county, two days before Lancashire’s game against Middlesex at the same Cumbrian venue in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Cairns said: “We’re delighted. It really is a feather in our cap.

"The good thing about using Sedbergh School for the match is Lancashire supporters will have already been to the ground if they attended their game against Durham last year.

"What we want to do is to make it as bigger event as we possibly can."

A total of three games of cricket will be taking place within one week at Sedbergh, as the women’s Hundred fixture between Manchester Originals and the Oval Invincibles on Friday, July 24, completes a festival of cricket.

“Hopefully, we can build strong links with Lancashire and Durham, as well,” Cairns said.

“Both have tended to have some Cumbrian players in their first-team in recent years.”

Carlisle duo Mike Slack and Ben Davidson, as well as the Cockermouth trio of Greg Platten, Alex Grainger and Matt Sempill, were all heavily involved for Cumberland last year.

For the 2020 campaign, a rule change means at least eight Cumbrians will have to play in each Cumberland side, limiting the number of “professionals” that counties can play.

“It’s a great chance to get more local lads playing that level of cricket,” Cairns said.