Farbrace provides updates on bowling coach search

The Bears are hunting a successor to Pop Welch, who has moved to Hampshire, and much interest has been shown in job for which the deadline for applications is this Friday.

Bears legend Welch leaves big boots to fill, but director of cricket Paul Farbrace is confident that a bowling coach of the highest calibre will be appointed.

The new man will follow in distinguished footsteps at Edgbaston, the likes of Welch, Allan Donald and Steve Perryman, all of whom were integral to bringing trophies to the Bears. And he will have a wider role than that of his predecessors as the Bears strive to create a steady flow of home-grown bowlers into the first-team squad in the coming years.

"It will apply not just to bowlers in the first team squad but throughout the youth system. The next bowling coach will work with the first team, of course, but also support Richard Jones with the academy and pathway bowlers. Producing our own young bowlers will be a real area of focus for us in the coming years and the new bowling coach will be integral to that."

The club aims to appoint Welch's successor by the start of March after a selection process which is open and thorough and incorporates the Rooney Rule.

"A lot of interest has been shown in the job from people around the world," said Farbrace. "That is good to see, though not surprising because Warwickshire is a club anyone would want to work at - and are county champions to boot.

"In the short term, Mo Sheikh and Kabir Ali, two talented coaches, will work as consultants during January to support Mark Robinson, so the bowlers are in good hands while the selection process goes on."