Can't ever recall seeing them come off for bad light under blue skies before...

Brilliant today and not too many overs on the bowlers legs either, but push tomorrow fingers crossed for good weather.

The drainage at Edgbaston is poor, always has been. Only last year Nasser Hussain was hammering us for it during the Test. And he's mentioned it in previous years too. Said the amount of rain here just doesn't justify the amount of time lost. I agree. Irrespective of ground status.

Seems to be an issue with the run ups here today.

Nevil Road has hosted international cricket for ages, very recently in fact they've had ODI's, T20i's and women's Test matches?

Regarding our situation, this is very frustrating!

Highveld wrote:

If he was with a "favoured" county he'd have about 70 caps by now!

Agreed, he'd have been in long ago.

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...

Sublime ton for Yates, Highveld are you OK?

Woakes for Bethell it is. I think Jacob has been a little unlucky here.

A bowling attack of 6 briskish right armers!

Woakes for Rushworth I feel.

We've played well last weekend. And if it wasn't for tinpot Somerset's useless outfield we'd have turned them over. Atleast I haven't gotta listen to their incredibly bias live stream commentary for a while...

But yes it's traditionally a team we've struggled against so happy to see us perform well. I agree that Somerset will be around mid table. They are hard to beat.

Oh and Rob Yates will be fine I feel, 7 FC tons isn't to be sniffed at. Comparing him to Ian Bell, a truly generational talent, is a bit harsh. Also Dan Mousley hasn't really had a proper go in the 4day side yet. I'm happy to see them both stay in.

Arrived today

Not the first time Lewis Gregory and Josh Davey held us up.

Agree about the attack looking a little samey. Hasan looked quicker when he played for Lancs so you would think there's more to come. Rushworth bowled a good, threatening line.

Apparently the boundary is being roped in to avoid the worst/dampest areas, meaning the boundary straight towards the Trescothick Stand is about 40 yards...

Taunton must have had the most rain in the country then...

Anyway, toss at 11.30am!

They should have a points deduction, it's a disgrace.

Absolutely disgraceful. What have they been doing down there? Look at that picture on twitter.

Terrific bloke. And isn't he doing well for 79.

Yes made that point in the previous thread, not a good look having Davies as VC with his history. He was suspended at the start of last season remember.

Moeen Ali is a good T20 captain with vast experience.

Not sure on Alex Davies as vice captain...its not that long ago he'd been found out for a series of offensive/racist tweets, is this really the sort of character we want in a leadership role even if the tweets are from years ago?

Am I overreacting?

How confident are we of Hasan Ali's availability for the first 2 games? Pakistan have a series against NZ coming up. I think?

We'll be about 6th or 7th in the County Championship, we'll flirt with relegation but it will be nothing like last season. We won't threaten the top 2 or 3.

Anything less than Finals Day, even winning it, should be considered a failure for the T20. Ridiculous amount of firepower in the side. The club is clearly prioritising this comp too.

One Day Cup. Really enjoyed this comp the last couple of years, hope to see young players continuing to get opportunity.

XI for Taunton, difficult to say. Think one or two of the seamers are going to be very disappointed. Especially if Woakes and Hasan are available. Does Davies still get in? Yates and Rhodes to open? Who goes 3? Not sure about Woakes batting 5, I think his batting has regressed a bit. I've got this weird feeling that Davies plays and keeps, no Burgess. I don't endorse that though. Hope Dan Mousley gets a go, it's time. Will Bethell usurp Briggs at some point? Briggs was poor last season and has been injured this winter. We could potentially bat very deep with Bethell in and I feel as though his bowling has improved. Seamers OHD, Hasan, Woakes, Norwell, Barnard, Rushworth. They can't all get in? Can they?!

Rambling now...

One thing is for sure, if it don't work out this season, it's on Robinson. He's got his way on coaching staff and playing squad now. Some good players who didn't wanna leave got let go in Lamb and Stone. Team selection got increasingly weird as the 2022 season went on. Don't think Gavin Larsen will be as hands on or as involved as Farby was on the playing side. This is Robbo now. And he didn't impress last season.

So what is Gavin Larsen's remit?

I always got the impression Farbrace was pretty 'hands on' with the playing squad, having a big say on contracts and recruitment (he's recruitment was poor). He took the Pathway seriously too I feel, we may not see the benefit of that for a few years though.

Will Larsen be similar? Or is it more of a commercial role now?

I wish him well.

And im just relieved its not Ashley Giles!