FOR the first time in four years, Warwickshire will start a new summer bereft of major trophies. Only the impressively sculpted replicas remain in the club museum and, in one instance, it was as though the club were hesitant to acknowledge the end of an era.
An empty space in the captain's gallery awaited a portrait of their most recent and most successful captain. Dermot Reeve has gone, taking his memories and idiosyncrasies - and probably one of the largest benefit cheques of all time - into a new coaching career at Somerset
Thus his name is added to those who served in the unique treble-winning side of 1994: Lara, Twose, Davis, Din, Paul Smith et al. A turnover on that scale might, but won't, be translated into negative vibes for 1997. To the contrary, Warwickshire are as positive as any side could be.
Tim Munton has been captain-elect for two or three years and the gaps in the staff were filled more than adequately. The club recruited well in Nick Knight and now David Hemp, the left-hander from Glamorgan, and nurtured well in bringing Ashley Giles into the front rank of younger English spin bowlers.
Munton may be considered a new helmsman in name only, having deputised for Reeve on so many occasions, notably for most of the victories in the first of two championship-winning seasons.
The distinctive change will be in the style of leadership: Munton is less demonstrative, perhaps more conservative, and unlikely to tinker with a roadworthy vehicle.
``We're very different people,'' he says, ``both in character and personality and in the way we impact on the game at different times. The similarity is that I'll be just as enthusiastic for the players to be positive and innovative.
``These were the key ingredients to our success and I have no intention of changing that side of it. l believe we have one of the strongest squads in the country and I'm looking forward to captainlng them.''
Munton is happy with a batting line-up chosen from Knight (fitness permitting), Moles, Khan, Hemp, Ostler and Penney and, more than anything, he considers himself fortunate to have a number of all-rounders who create the opportunity to select ``the perfect balanced attack''.
The mixture is formidable with a world-class fast bowler (Donald), two seasoned seamers (Small and Munton), three candidates as a fourth or even fifth seamer (Brown, Welch and Edmond), and two slow bowlers, left-arm and off-spin (Giles and Nell SmIth).
Donald is returning on what has become a two-year cycle. In 1994 he toured with South Africa and in 1996 he took a sabbatical in the Lancashire League where, according to Munton, he learnt to bowl at a slower pace while conserving his threat as a strike bowler.
``In my view,'' his new captain says, ``we've got the best fast bowler in the world. Because he joined us at such a young age he's very much part of the furniture around here. Unlike some overseas players, it's more a problem to get the ball out of Alan's hands than vice-versa. He wears his heart on his sleeve for Warwickshire.''
With Donald replacing fellow-countryman Shaun Pollock, the bowling is more or less back to the 1995 double-winning formula, and with the potential to bring in a new component.
Darren Altree is a young left-armer who can trouble the best for pace, as he did against the Pakistanis last summer, and also swing the ball into the right-hander. 'He's a genuine prospect,'' enthused Munton, ``with all the assets to develop a flrst-class career.''
lf last year represented a pause in Warwickshire's domination of the county game, they were not entirely empty-handed because their youngsters won the second Xl championship by some distance.
Michael Powell was one batsman who benefited from some first-team experience, and though Anurag Singh did not instantly succeed at this level, he will be expected to push on once he has contributed to a rare double with Mark Wagh this summer.
``If we steer clear of injuries, l think we have every chance, in the championship and the one-dayers,'' Munton says.