So, here we go, then - all present and correct. The television is on, Cardiff is bathed in sunshine, Rhydian Roberts from The X Factor is in the posh seats and David “Bumble” Lloyd is tweeting away on his Twitter site, fit to burst. It could only be the Ashes 2009.

It certainly couldn't be the Ashes 2005. Four years ago, there was no such thing as Twitter, or Rhydian Roberts, or Cardiff. (As a venue for cricket, I mean. History shows that Cardiff has existed as a city without international cricket since at least 1993.) Another difference: in 2005, people could watch at least some of the Ashes on “free to air” television. This time, it's only on Sky Sports, which, to be fair, has the room to screen it uninterrupted. So, the good news is, you aren't going to miss a minute of it. Unless, that is, you're missing all of it.

Still, if all these changes dizzied you, there was, at least, reassurance yesterday in the form of an early sighting of Andrew Flintoff having a laugh during the National Anthem. Some things don't change. And nor does Sky's touching insistence on addressing Sir Ian Botham, with the forelock-tugging formality due a knighted former cricketer, as “Sir Ian”.

There was, however, one unthinkable first-day moment when David Gower called him “Ian”. Presumably, as a punishment for this insubordination, Gower was obliged to spend last night incarcerated in a tower and feeding on raw turnips.

Inevitably, there was a lot of attention given to the new facilities and, by and large, everyone seemed happy. Then again, Sky had a long time to prepare a glass-backed studio fit for an Ashes Test, so there could be few excuses.

It's gone for orange and yellow wallpaper and a Nordic-effect wooden floor, which wasn't lending itself particularly convincingly to swing yesterday, but which might well “do something” later on - perhaps after Bob Willis has been pounding around on it for a couple of days, doing the highlights shows.

The greater mystery is why Gower and company are sitting behind a large glass bowl apparently lined with an enormous pair of cream-coloured Y-fronts. (Look carefully at it today, if you don't believe me.) During the excited build-up, it was a privilege to go behind the scenes with the Cardiff caterers, where the chef told us: “The boys are just prepping the salmon for the beetroot gravlax.” Truly, it's a whole new world at the cricket these days. We returned to Mike Atherton in the studio. “I'm looking forward to that salmon in Vimto sauce,” he said.

In fact, lunch for the commentary team was lasagne. We know this from studying the bright and shining gift to the information super-highway that is Bumble's Twitter feed. Among the revelations yesterday was this: “Our very good friends from the BBC have just brought us a pork pie.” It's good to know that relations between the rival broadcasting organisations remain cordial.

Then again, this was just after lunch, at the beginning of the afternoon session. One doesn't wish to quibble, but surely the definition of a very good friend is someone who gives you a pork pie when you're hungry. Whereas, someone who gives you a pork pie right after lunch is more likely someone who didn't want his pork pie.

Anyway, far more importantly, this appeared to be a rare example of Sky Sports feeding on the BBC's scraps. What a turn-up. It's normally the other way around these days.

Eventually, it was 5.28pm and England were 275 for five. “It's nearly time for a Twitter,” Bumble said. “I can feel one coming on. Posting all day from the commentary box, I am.”

Well, once an hour, if we're being honest. But you don't want to go mad on the first day.

Among Bumble's greatest tweets yesterday: “KP will get 100” and “Does anyone out there agree that Nasser Hussain is a dead ringer for Rafa Benítez?” Pietersen, of course, didn't get 100. But, on the plus side, I think we can all agree that, by scoring 69, he got a good deal nearer to doing so than Hussain has ever got to looking like the manager of Liverpool.

Soon after play started, we were offered the timelessly evocative summer sound of “throat ball” on Ravi Bopara. It was like someone smacking an oil drum with a stick. Suddenly one saw the point of that ring on a choker that Andrew Strauss wears in the voice-box area. That's not teenage affectation on the part of the England captain, it's additional armour.

First-day verdict? The feeling was that England had been nudging it, until the late losses of Flintoff and Matt Prior. Meanwhile, during a discussion of bowling styles, Sir Ian referred to “the scrambled seam”. Does that go with the beetroot gravlax? Or is it a different dish altogether? We've got seven weeks to work this all out.