AS you have probably seen the first two County Championship games of the season haven’t quite gone to plan.

We have played on two wickets which have suited the bowlers and unfortunately came unstuck on both occasions.

It’s especially disappointing because our pre season games went so well and we were full of confidence heading into the season.

I mentioned in the last column that I believe this group of players are the best prepared group I have witnessed in 15 years at the club and I stick by that statement. They have worked extremely hard both physically and technically and this work will pay off in the coming weeks.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom and we have taken a number of positives from the first two games.

The way the lads have bowled as a unit has been first class and they thoroughly deserve the plaudits they have received. From a statistical point if view I feel we are due a touch of luck too.

When bowling during our last game we passed the bat 39 times (played and missed) compared to only eight from Derby.

Basically this means when we batted we nicked everything behind and when we bowled they kept missing it.

I have to pay a special mention to Huw Waters who missed the majority of last season with a back problem. Huw has worked extremely hard during the off-season and has turned himself into a very mature bowler in first class cricket.

The way he has started the season has been outstanding and he could be the catalyst for Glamorgan to push on and challenge for promotion this year.

Also we have to remember that only three weeks ago our batsmen were in magnificent form during our pre-season games.

Every player during the first two games has shown glimpses of what they can achieve and I back them all to come good this week against Hampshire.

The way Gareth Rees batted during the second innings against Derby just shows how much talent we posses in our team.

It’s Hampshire’s turn this week to visit the Swalec Stadium. And my preparations as elite performance analyst began with compiling a full report and video analysis of the Hampshire team for the lads to digest before today.

This gave them a picture of what to expect so they can start to prepare technically and mentally. Sometimes players may even adjust their practice on the days before the game to suit the style of the opposition.

Preparations for match day start even earlier now for me as an analyst. I arrive at the stadium at about 8am but I’m never earlier than Roger Skryme, our trusty kit man, Newport County employee and all round top bloke.

I spend most of my day in the media centre but set my camera up on the first floor in order to get the best view of the game.

After breakfast, which is cooked up by our fantastic chef Claire, the player preparation – nets and fielding drills – starts around 9am.

One thing I have noticed since moving from a player to a coach is how much work actually goes on behind the scenes.

As a professional player you can sometimes get stuck in a playing bubble and not realise what’s going on around you. The amount of work carried out by our cricket administrator Susan Exton is incredible and I know the players really appreciate the time and effort she puts in throughout the season.

It would be nice to read William Bragg’s column next week describing Glamorgan’s first win of the season with Will notching up the maiden century of 2012!