Heavy defeat only prevented from being a total embarrassment by lower middle order resistance.

Only one 50 from our top 5 in the two games so far, worrying start to the season batting wise.

Notts copping for a bit of a backlash at Headingley this morning. Won the toss, opted to bat and are 100-6 at lunch. Three wickets for Sideshow against his former employers.

Yorkshire have left out Ashraf and Patterson for Wainwright and Hannon-Dalby.

Root got a first-baller. 6/1 in reply to 143ao

Great 1st day for Lancs,bowling Somerset out for 268 and are 70-0 at close of play.

I don't know what to make of this Yorkshire side. To me, on paper, it looks weaker than at many points over recent years. Have players such as Pyrah and Brophy really improved that much that they can be regulars in sides challenging for the title, or is the standard of County cricket in decline?

I love the idea of going with a home grown squad however I fear for our batting line up if a couple of injuries occur.

Brophy was pretty much a regular in the side which challenged for the title last year, while Pyrah was a key part of the one-day side.

Had both Bresnan and Shahzad been available, Pyrah probably wouldn't have played in this game despite a career best against Durham.

He reminds me a fair bit of Mark Alleyne as a cricketer, who was a key component of that strong Gloucestershire side a few years ago - not great at any particular discipline but a steady contributor in all departments.

I know what you mean about the batting though - effectively there are six specialists in the squad (the top five in this game plus Joe Sayers, who is working his way back to form and fitness). Next man up after that is probably Gary Ballance, which doesn't fill me with confidence.

Yorkshire 306-9, Gale unbeaten on 117. The last wicket has put on 52, of which Hannon-Dalby has contributed 2 not out

Following the updates on twitter, seems like Gale's doing an excellent job of finding a single off the fifth or sixth ball of each over.

Think I'll bob across tomorrow.

My point was not specifically about brophy this year, I was surprised how well we did last year to be honest, although the development of Lyth and continued growth of gale contributed a lot I guess.

I wonder whether the standard of first class cricket is deteriorating but perhaps I'm just not giving our young players enough credit, and elder statesmen such as brophy!

Lancs absolutely destroying Somerset....

Is it too early to suggest that we might just mount a serious challenge this year??.....Even the weather is being kind for the moment....

Yorkshire on the way to bottling it at Headingley, 24-3 chasing 145 after letting Notts pile on 170 for the last 4 wickets earlier on.