Dominic Ostler believes there is "real quality" among the players in the Warwickshire Women's squad - and is loving the challenge of translating that quality into trophies.

These are exciting times for the women’s set-up at Warwickshire. Bears legend Ostler is approaching his first season as women’s coach, having been recruited by Laura MacLeod, for whom 2019 will be the first season as Women and Girls Performance Manager.

With former England women’s coach Paul Farbrace about to start work at Edgbaston as sport director, the women’s set-up has massive experience and expertise behind it.

We have had a very good winter. It’s been great working with Laura and Tom and we have some real quality players to work with. There is a great team spirit around the squad and I am loving it.

Dominic Ostler

Ostler and his assistant Tom Brown will lead the women into competitive action for the first time on May 5 and 6 when they face a double-header away to Sussex and Kent. It will be a testing start but Ostler believes his team is well-equipped to step up and challenge this year.

“Warwickshire Women have been performing well for several seasons,” he said. “Now it’s time to move up to the next level and I think the players we have here are very much capable of that.

“There is no doubt we have quality in the squad, it is a question of getting confidence up and putting processes in places. I guess part of my role is to build up the girls’ belief and turn that quality into a winning mentality.

“We have had a very good winter. It’s been great working with Laura and Tom and we have some real quality players to work with. There is a great team spirit around the squad and I am loving it.

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work over the winter and now can’t wait to get outside and start putting all that preparation into practice. Sussex and Kent over the Bank Holiday weekend will be a great test to start with and we just can’t wait to get going.”