Rhodes: "Edgbaston will be rocking on Friday nights this summer"

The signing of West Indies big hitter Carlos Brathwaite has given the Bears' middle-order an explosive dimension for the 2021 Blast.

Rhodes is delighted to have the experience of proven winners Brathwaite and spinner Danny Briggs in his team. But while their nous and quality will be an invaluable, the captain reckons his squad now contains plenty of match-winners.

"To have their experience in the dressing room will be amazing. I think that sort of experience was something we were just a little bit lacking last year to get us over the line in a couple of tight games.

"To have those two on board is fantastic but we have also got some very exciting batting options. Rob Yates and Dan Mousley had a taste of T20 last year and showed everybody how good they are. Adam Hose went up the top of the order and scored an amazing hundred and Sam Hain did what he has done for the last few years at four - we all know what a great T20 player he is.

The Bears' Blast campaign will start with five away games before the first home match, against Lancashire Lightning, on June 18. Home games will then come thick and fast and Rhodes expects the Edgbaston atmosphere to be bigger than ever.

"We have all missed live sport so much and I think Edgbaston will be rocking on some Friday nights this summer," he said. "That will be fantastic for us players, because you want to play in front of big crowds on the best grounds and they don't come better than Edgbaston."