By Oliver Brett

Warwickshire were not expected to feature in the Championship shake-up in 2004 but established a stranglehold with a series of wins in May and June, and some points-laden draws to follow.

Their batting has been a tower of strength - with some enormous first-innings totals. Wickets have been shared around, but who has had a really great season and who has been part of the cavalry?

Nick Knight

Since retiring from one-day internationals in the wake of England's World Cup exit, Knight has given his all to Warwickshire.

As captain, has been credited with making the batsmen - notably Ian Bell - believe more in themselves by simplifying their techniques, and as a player more than 1,200 runs at an average of more than 60 have not gone amiss either.

Ian Bell

When he is old and grey, Bell will talk about 2004 as a season of particularly fine vintage, when he played so well he broke into England's Test team.

At one point, it was almost impossible for bowlers to dismiss him as he piled up half a dozen centuries in the Championship - and he also took important wickets at important times with his medium pace.

Naqqash Tahir

Tahir was unquestionably the find of the year for Warwickshire, and is one of the most promising of all the young seam bowlers on the circuit.

The 20-year-old local lad was thrust into his first-class debut at Edgbaston against Worcestershire in May and took eight wickets in the match in a winning performance.

Jonathan Trott

Another run-machine in the middle order, the Cape Town-born batting prospect has scored just one century, but has been enormously consistent with an average in excess of 50 and reaching 1,000 runs for the season by the end of August.

Dougie Brown

Knowing he is getting no younger these days, the genial Scottish all-rounder has had to keep performing to retain his place in a side full of youthful talents.

With two centuries to his name and the first man to collect 30 wickets in the season, Brown's experience has been part of the glue that has welded this side together.

Tony Frost

The bespectacled wicket-keeper from the Potteries is a conscientious cricketer who has more than chipped in with the bat.

Whereas the Warwickshire of before had to use gloveman Keith Piper as a tail-end batsman, Frost has scored more than 500 runs in 2004 adding a career-best unbeaten 135 into the bargain.

Brad Hogg

The Australian international was signed for his slow bowling, but struggled to achieve much in the conditions that he encountered.

However, his batting proved to be a stunning sideshow - 662 runs at an average in excess of 70, and scoring at nearly a run a ball. No wonder Warwickshire amassed so many batting points.

Mark Wagh

Opening with Knight, Wagh has now made the transition from youngster-with-potential to quality county performer. He also happens to be a brilliant fielder and a handy spin bowler.

An elegant off-side player, Wagh's statistics look more mortal than some with a season average around the 40.00 mark but he has been a vital ever-present in the side.

Neil Carter

The South African left-arm seamer has been always a willing trier for Warwickshire even if he has only been moderately successful.

He has featured in nearly all the side's matches and has also clubbed a few important runs here and there.

Jim Troughton

In any other season, Troughton's 500-plus runs would be considered a decent effort but in 2004 he was frequently put in the shade by his team-mates.

He is still probably the best fielder in the side and his spin-bowling is getting better.

Heath Streak

The former Zimbabwe captain claimed the best match figures by a debutant in the history of the Championship when Warwickshire beat Northamptonshire in June.

A match haul of 13-158 in that match was followed by some irritating injuries and some less spectacular form at the end of the season but he looks like being part of the furniture at Edgbaston for the foreseeable future.

Michael Powell

Powell had to play much of the season in the Second XI but the former captain has scarcely been found wanting when he has stepped up to the plate.

He is one of nine Warwickshire batsmen to have registered a Championship century during the course of the season.

Dewald Pretorius

A truncated season for Pretorius saw him put in one or two solid performances with the ball with a best bowling analysis of 4-119.