Giles celebrates Warwickshire's B&H Cup final win last summer

England spin bowler Ashley Giles is to captain Warwickshire in the opening weeks of the new county season.

The slow left-armer will deputise for Michael Powell, who could miss the first four Championship matches after breaking a toe in training.

Giles has been preferred to senior professional Dougie Brown, who was on the opposing side during the recent World Cup as acting coach of the Namibian team.

"I'm chuffed to get the captaincy and a bit surprised too because I haven't been in the county picture much recently.

"But I will have some superb, experienced players like Dougie Brown around me. It's a great honour and I will give it my best shot," Giles commented.

The club is, meanwhile, still looking for two overseas players - one to spend the entire summer at Edgbaston, and one to deputise for New Zealand paceman Shane Bond, who will be touring Sri Lanka.

Kenyan leg-spinner Collins Obuya has been tipped to fill the second slot alongside Bond, after an earlier approach for Australian Brad Hogg was abandoned because of his international commitments.