By Simon Mann Test Match Special commentator

Leicestershire experienced a turbulent winter.

Last season's skipper Vince Wells and wicket-keeper Neil Burns were sacked and Iain Sutcliffe refused the offer of the captaincy before leaving to join Lancashire.

Virender Sehwag is likely to excite and frustrate in equal measure

Protests from supporters followed and an independent review, set up to look into the management of the club, has recommended an overhaul of the way it is run.

Eight players have been signed since last season and a large proportion of the squad that came so close to winning a one-day double in 2001 has now left.

Phil De Freitas has been the great survivor and he takes over the captaincy at the age of 37.

His main job will be to develop team spirit among the multitude of new players and the remaining few from the old regime.

There is no doubt he has some talented players to work with.

Virender Sehwag is the most eye-catching signing. He is likely to excite and frustrate in equal measure, and it will be interesting to see if he can adapt his attacking game to English pitches.

Sehwag will certainly relish the freedom of Twenty20 cricket.

Australian batsmen usually provide good value for money and although Brad Hodge is hardly a household name, he has a sold enough record in state cricket with Victoria (a career average of 39.98) to suggest he should be a useful acquisition.

LEICESTERSHIRE 2003 Coach: Phil Whitticase Captain: Phil De Freitas Overseas players: Virender Sehwag, Brad Hodge Main players out: Iain Sutcliffe, Neil Burns, Vince Wells, Carl Crowe Main players in: Jeremy Snape, David Masters, Paul Nixon

Jeremy Snape fell out with coach John Bracewell last summer at Gloucestershire, so he will be eager to make the most of a fresh start.

Paul Nixon is back after three years at Kent and is more than capable of filling the gap left by Burns, who was the leading keeper in the country last summer with 67 dismissals.

The irrepressible Devon Malcolm, now 40, is back for another season. Remarkably, he was the third highest wicket-taker in Championship Division One last summer with 60.

It would be even more remarkable if he matched that this time and the same is true of Darren Maddy, who weighed in with 43 wickets at 23.83 and 1,187 runs.

Leicestershire's attack is made up of old-timers and the unproven.

At least Charlie Dagnall is fit again after a hip injury ruined his first season at Grace Road, but it is questionable whether David Masters, Matt Whiley and Jamie Grove will provide adequate back-up

There is plenty of confident talk at the club but staying out of relegation trouble might prove to be Leicestershire's best hope.