Jim Troughton heeds caution despite Birmingham Bears enjoying impressive start in T20 Blast

The Edgbaston side have won two and had a no result from their opening three matches ahead of a run of four straight away games in the format

Birmingham Bears will look to extend their strong start to their Vitality Blast campaign when they visit old rivals Northants Steelbacks on Friday.

But first-team coach Jim Troughton, while delighted with the back-to-back wins that has sprung his side to the top of the North Group, insists the Bears are well aware that is still "early days”.

Plenty of tough tests lie ahead starting with four straight away games. The Bears' campaign now enters a road-trip phase with tomorrow's visit to Northampton followed by further away games at Notts Outlaws (August 2), Yorkshire Vikings (August 4) and Leicestershire (August 7) before returning to Edgbaston against the Outlaws on August 9.

T20 BLAST HUB

The Steelbacks, with whom the Bears have shared some titanic T20 duels over the years, will be dangerous opposition as ever at Wantage Road tomorrow night. But with excellent wins banked against Leicestershire Foxes and Derbyshire Falcons this week, Troughton's men will make the short trip with confidence high.

"It is good to get off to a strong start in the group and of course it is nice to have points on the board," he said. "But it is early days in the group, we know that.

"It is all about getting momentum at the right time but if we start putting good things into place now and get guys into form it can only be good for us. If the batters can dovetail like they have and the bowlers continue to find the right areas as they have then hopefully it will be a good tournament for us."

^{Sam Hain struck 85 in the win over Derbyshire}

So far in the group, the Bears have been impressive in all departments of the game, not least in the bowling where Jeetan Patel and Ashton Agar have really shown their class.

The two spinners have delivered a combined 16-0-88-5 while paceman Fidel Edwards has started his loan spell from Hampshire in the most spectacular fashion with six wickets at 8.50 runs apiece in his first two games.

"Fidel has been fantastic for us," said Troughton. "To take early wickets is always brilliant for a team and he knows his game and bowls with pace, short and full, and gives us lots of options. He is a class act."

Courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network

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