By Richard Wilford BBC WM

Westwood is returning to the ranks after two tough seasons as skipper

The unexpected departure of Ian Westwood as the Warwickshire skipper has left the county with a really tricky decision to make.

Put simply, there really is not a single outstanding candidate within the Bears playing staff to succeed him.

With star names Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott unavailable because of their England commitments, senior players are a little thin on the ground.

So who could director of cricket Ashley Giles call upon?

Troughton led the Bears to the T20 quarter-finals in 2010

The former England one-day international batsman led the Bears in this summer's FP T20, but his batting form has been questionable at best.

The 31-year-old struck only one half-century in 30 Championship innings in 2010.

Maybe the captaincy would galvanise Troughton's form, and breathe new life into a faltering career.

Maddy previously succeeded Heath Streak as Bears skipper

This would be an emergency measure to reappoint Maddy to the role he vacated in 2008.

At 36 he has experience on his side, but he too is coming off a dreadful season with the bat, averaging under 20 in the first-class game.

Maddy is unlikely to relish a return to the captaincy, even for a short-term period.

Porterfield is set to join Ireland team-mate Boyd Rankin at Edgbaston

The close-season signing from Gloucestershire could be thrown straight into the deep end at Edgbaston.

Brought in to add consistency at the top of the order, the Ireland captain could conceivably be asked to bring more to the table.

It is probably one year too soon to appoint Porterfield, 26, over his new team-mates and Giles is likely to resist this option.

Younus marked his Test return with a century against South Africa

Another new signing, but one with the Test match experience and gravitas to come straight in as skipper.

But there is a fatal flaw. Younus has made up with the Pakistan Cricket Board, and is restored to the international set-up. He is also making runs for fun.

There is no guarantee that he will be available much, if at all, in 2011. Had his international exile continued he would have been a shoo-in.

Botha bowled only 50 Championship overs in 2010

Now here is the wildcard. With Imran Tahir heading back south to Hampshire, Botha becomes the Bears' number one spinner after a quiet year on the Championship front.

His all-round ability makes him an automatic selection for the one-day game too.

A true cricket man, the 33-year old has the experience and personality to carry the county forward for a couple of seasons.

Clarke last played for England in an ODI in 2006

The former England all-rounder is rebuilding his career after a disastrous spell in charge at Derbyshire.

A key contributor on the field at times over the last two seasons, there is little evidence to suggest he is captaincy material again yet.

Clarke, 29, would be best left within the ranks to concentrate on his own game.

Other than another player being parachuted in as skipper from another county, that would seem to exhaust the list of potential candidates for Giles to select from.

Neil Carter is the other senior pro, but he will again need to be rested from some matches to ease the burden on his body. Tim Ambrose's unexpected return for another year may prove a smart decision, but he cannot be expected to take on added responsibility.

Personally, I can see Botha getting the nod, at least for the next couple of seasons. At worst he would be the cliched 'safe pair of hands'. At best he could oversee an improvement in the Bears' fortunes after a 2010 campaign that flirted with disaster, but ended with victory at Lord's.

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