OBUYA FACTFILE Born: 27/7/81, Nairobi Bowls: Right-arm leg-break Bats: Right-handed ODIs: 28 25 wkts at 45.00 First-class matches: 10 27 wkts at 32.44

The Bears have been thwarted in their attempts to sign a top-class foreign spin-bowler to complement New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond.

Indian veteran Anil Kumble and Australia's Brad Hogg have both ruled themselves out of the running.

Obuya, 21, hit the headlines during the World Cup, taking 5-24 in an upset win over Sri Lanka on the way to the semi-finals.

In 28 one-day internationals he has taken 25 wickets at an average of 45.

His World Cup return of 13 at 28.76 hints at a bowler still improving but he has played in just 10 first-class matches.

Obuya currently earns $700 (about �440) per month from his contract with the Kenya Cricket Association.

Before the tournament he supplemented his income selling tomatoes, although he told BBC Sport he wanted to become a doctor.

The East Africans took part in the Sharjah Cup following their success in South Africa but have no top-level matches scheduled during the English season.

Warwickshire were not immediately available for comment following the report in local newspaper the Birmingham Post.

Feature: Counties search for stars

The county will be without their skipper for the first month of the season after Michael Powell broke a toe in the nets. Vice-captain Dougie Brown is expected to take charge.

And they have yet to find a short-term replacement for Bond, who is on international duty in May.