Just tuned in to the live stream for the first time. Nice to see that the score banner is much improved on last season, good stuff from the club.

The software on the stream is better. But if you look around, some counties are realising that this is a great way to reach fans and even advertisers.
The commentary teams some counties have put together like Surrey have just announced, Lancashire have something similar with more elaborate production are very impressive. Other counties have brought in ex pro’s, journalists or even some bloggers specifically for stream commentary.
I think Lancashire do a beyond the boundary segment during lunch where they do interviews live or that they’ve filmed throughout the year.

Good to see 3 different centurions in first 2 games this season.

And also encouraging that both of our openers already have centuries this season.

I'm sure that Rob Yates can put last season's form behind him and go on to a successful career.
As for Alex Davies, he is probably propelled forward by the tide of goodwill emanating from this site.

Sublime ton for Yates, Highveld are you OK?

He's now only 16 off his first class best.

If I recall from two years ago he tended to be out soon after he reached his hundred.

Although getting out after reaching a hundred is preferable to getting out after getting one like last year.

A good innings, let’s hope it continues throughout the year because if he can get back some of what he had two years ago then we will be in a much stronger position this season than last.

Pleased to see Yates has done his job and got runs.
However as one swallow does not make a summer, on good innings does not erase the memory of the consitant failures last season.

Delighted to see that Sam Hain has got another good score.

Highveld wrote:

Pleased to see Yates has done his job and got runs.
However as one swallow does not make a summer, on good innings does not erase the memory of the consitant failures last season.

Delighted to see that Sam Hain has got another good score.

That almost sounds like praise for Yates…

Refreshing to see us score at a decent rate both today and against Somerset. Last season we would so often plod along at 2 an over. Decent chance of maximum batting points in this one now.

Very good today.

Rob Yates, once he gets to around 25 he just looks booked in. It was a bit of a shock when he got out. Drives the ball so well, plays in the V.

Sam Hain, he always finds a way. Can look ropey at times during an innings but guts it out. A great accumulator, you look up at the scoreboard and suddenly he has 40 runs without seeming to do anything extravagant.

So pleased for Dan Mousley, so good to watch. Pleased with the positive intent he showed, hitting seamers off a length for 6 isn't something we normally see. Important knock for him.

Hoping the weather is kind tomorrow...

A great first day! The batting looks so much stronger this year already. Above all, the start to this campaign will have instilled much needed confidence to the whole squad.

Yes tougher tests to come and we haven't won a game yet but signs are promising indeed. Top order batting like our early 2000's sides that won title in 2004 added to our seam bowling unit which is as strong as 2011-2012 possibly even more depth. We're probably short of a top class spinner so I expect us to approach Leicestershire to enquire about one of theirs. Can't allow Notts to hoover up all their talent. We can offer our wide square and maybe get Rehan or Callum Parkinson in.

It's all potential at the moment but hopefully the beginnings of an all round good side.

Superb effort yesterday. A couple more sessions and we can bat them out of the game. Forecast is crap for today so whenever we do get some play we need to step on the gas.

If the forecast is right, this looks like being another three day game.

Yes could be a day waiting around but then 104 overs Saturday and 96 Sunday so still plenty of time. I think our game is more suited to engineering good proper 4-day wins rather than 3-day wins and we don't prepare spicy pitches like some other grounds. But we should have an attack that'll cause a few more more problems than Kent's did yesterday. Can't recall any slip chances after I got there and there were hardly any lbw appeals yesterday either.

I hope the club really promote Saturday this afternoon and this evening. Free tickets for kids or how about offering free tickets for local club cricketers whose games will all be called off tomorrow? I think you'd get a few extra in and would be a good PR move.

Heavy rain falling in Brum now. Unfortunately I rate the chances of starting on time Saturday at 50-50

I think the amount of play tomorrow will be a good test of how much better the drainage is at Test grounds than the rest such as Taunton and Bristol. The Test grounds have been supported and encouraged by the ECB to spend money on drainage so we shall see if it was well spent.
With fewer pints for a draw this year, any team playing at a ground where time lost can be minimised will have a big advantage.

To me, the season starts far too early in April.

GerryShedd wrote:

With fewer pints for a draw this year

Did I miss this rule change? I suppose it makes sense to cut down the players’ alcohol intake