After the 1st 2 day match against Yorkshire, seems like the same issues with batting as last year.
Lose 3 or 4 wickets early, middle order digs the top order out of trouble. Assume they’ll put a write up on the edgbaston website, but there’s this one on Yorkshire’s https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/10519/edwards-shines-on-impressive-yorkshire-bowling-day

Preview of the 3-day double header against the Pears

https://wccc.co.uk/worcestershire-complete-warm-up-programme-with-doubleheader-against-local-rivals/

“Tomorrow (Monday) will be split overs because Tuesday’s forecast isn’t great, and then we will see where that takes us.

Seems likely tomorrow will be the only day we get play so 45 overs per side

I really thought that a specialist opening batsman would've been signed to especially fill the void left by Sibley's departure.

2 openers whose form last year was pretty atrocious is definitely the most worrying aspect of this side. You need top order runs to win. It’s a strong middle order in theory. But if 1-3 aren’t contributing, it starts becoming a lot harder.

I may be disappointed; but I expect Yates to return to the form he showed in 2021.

Stayed up by the skin of our teeth. I'm not sure things have changed enough in the close season to transform this side so comfortable midtable CC obscurity would do me nicely. On the plus side, it doesn't seem possible that the batting group could be that bad two seasons in a row. A one-day trophy would be a good aim.

First day of the pre season for me, delighted to be back online with you all.

I think the CC will be a struggle, our batting has not been a strong point for most of my time as a member or a supporter. Hopefully the bowling will be able to make up for it and one or two batsmen can have a good season. Relegation battle but it will depend on the other counties, we have been fortunate recently that there have been worse teams than us.

I think T20 will be inconsistent, big wins and big defeats. Probably getting to quarter finals.

50 over will be interesting to view, I’d like to see a balanced squad with youth getting experience and established players guiding. Knock out stages would be good.

Stadium, last year was for me the worst I’ve experienced Edgbaston. Road closures, traffic jams, confusion over members parking and disabled parking across all formats. I’d like to see more effective communication from the club about parking and general travel conditions for those fans who have to travel and public transport isn’t feasible.

Let’s have a good one!

Some useful runs for Davies, Mousley and Bethell.
You can tell it’s pre-season, some real rustiness on both sides.
Not sure the 45 overs a side is a big help, but it’s better than nothing. And looking around the country, I’m glad the Bears went on tour. I know other teams stayed at home, I’ve seen Sussex have had all practice matches rained off so far and their only full warm up match looks likely to be against a university side.

Lot's of good comments. Red ball statistician Edmund Bayliss (see twitter) has us finishing 7th. The batting looks weaker than last year and Mark Robinson must be thinking 2022 was an off year for Davis and Yates and that one of Bethell or Mousley can develop into a 1st class number 5. That seems optimistic and Hain and Burgess are (perhaps) unlikely to excel the way they did in 2022. Briggs as the spinner is another potential weak spot, but given Surrey won the CC with no spinners last year does that matter? Seam bowling certainly looks strong picking three out of Woakes, Norwell, Rushworth, OHD & Hassan Ali should allow a bit of rotation in the early season rush although Henry B's decline is worrying and Ali not available for the end of season games. Barnard and Burgess look a solid 6&7. By my reckoning w ere playing Northants, Lancs, Notts and Hampshire just the once and that seems quite a kind fixture list. On that basis perhaps we finish 4/5?
I predict finals day in the 20/20 and out in the group stages of the 50 over.