By Simon Mann Test Match Special commentator

Warwickshire are an improving team with genuine chances of silverware in both championship and one-day cricket.

Uncertainty surrounding their overseas signings could hamper them in the first part of the season and the arrival of New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond cannot come quickly enough.

Shane Bond is one of the most dangerous bowlers in world cricket

Bond could make a telling impact provided he is fit and motivated after a tough international schedule.

Warwickshire failed in their attempts to sign Zaheer Khan and Australian Adam Dale and were also unsuccessful in efforts to bring in Anil Kumble or Brad Hogg to fill the second overseas place.

The club's thinking is clear - quality fast bowlers and quality spinners win championships. They are right and without them they will probably fall short.

Australian John Inverarity has replaced Bob Woolmer as coach and that should be no bad thing.

It was clear that Woolmer did not have the full support of the dressing room in his second coaching spell with the club.

Inverarity is vastly experienced and helped revive Kent's fortunes in 2001.

The batting looks solid, with the emergence of Jim Troughton a major plus last season.

After a winter with the England Academy, he now has to cope with greater expectations in his second full season.

Mark Wagh knows how quickly things can go wrong. After returning from the academy in 2002 he sustained a serious knee injury in pre-season training and could not find his form when he returned to action in July.

The spotlight will also be on Ian Bell, who reserved his better performances for one-day cricket last year, enduring an awful season in which he averaged 24.37 in the championship.

During the winter one former senior member of the England management team privately expressed his doubts that Bell is good enough to become a regular Test match player.

WARWICKSHIRE 2003 Coach: John Inverarity Captain: Michael Powell Overseas players: Shane Bond

Warwickshire believe in him though and he has shown in the past that he is capable of scoring consistently in the county game.

Nick Knight has never known a season like 2002 - five championship centuries and 1520 runs at an average of 95. With help from Troughton and the consistent Dominic Ostler, his efforts helped propel Warwickshire into second place.

He is Warwickshire's key player but it is expecting a lot from him to reproduce that sort of form.

The bowling needs the anticipated overseas assistance.

South African Neil Carter has failed to make an impact in four-day cricket during his two years with the county, Melvyn Betts has struggled likewise, mainly because of fitness problems, and Alan Richardson missed seven games last year because of injury.

Richardson is fully fit again and will be a key component in Warwickshire's attack if he remains so.

Ashley Giles, Neil Smith and the emerging Jamie Spires provide captain Mike Powell with spinning options.

It says a lot about the rest of the attack though that the tireless veteran Dougie Brown bowled the most overs and was the leading wicket-taker last season with 52.