He will replace Bob Woolmer, who is leaving Edgbaston at the end of the season, and will take up his duties in Match next year.

Inverarity has previous experience of county cricket, having acted as coaching consultant at Kent during last season's National League-winning campaign and previously in 1988.

"John Inverarity is a man held in the highest regard by coaches and players from around the world," said Warwickshire chief executive Dennis Amiss.

"We feel sure that the enormous wealth of young talent available to us at Warwickshire can only benefit from the experience and knowledge of a coach of this calibre."

Inverarity, who has been the headmaster of Hale School in Perth since 1989, has agreed a two-year contract with the club.

The 598-year-old played six Tests between 1968 and 1972, scoring 174 runs and taking four wickets, but was a respected performer in Australian domestic cricket for many seasons.

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New Zealand's Shane Bond has been offered a playing contract for the 2003 season.

The fast bowler took 12 wickets in three County Championship matches in August, standing in for Warwickshire's regular overseas player Shaun Pollock.