Mark Thorburn has extended his contract with Gloucestershire

His new role will help compensate for the loss of former bowling coach Stuart Barnes to Surrey last year and spin bowling coach Richard Dawson, who recently left to join Yorkshire.

Gloucestershire director of cricket John Bracewell said: " We are delighted that Mark has joined us on a full-time basis and has taken up the position as bowling coach to go with the analyst post he already holds.

“Mark’s passion has always been in the bowling department and the feedback we received from his Level 4 coaching course was very impressive.

“Over the winter Mark has worked with our bowlers and I have been thrilled with their obvious improvement and the manner in which Mark has gone about his work."

JONATHAN Trott is expected to make his comeback against Gloucestershire in April after leaving England’s Ashes tour early with a stress related illness.

South Africa-born Trott, 32, left Australia after one Test, but is planning to play in Warwickshire’s pre-season friendlies, starting with a two-day match against Gloucestershire at Edgbaston on April 1 and 2.

Former England batsman Amiss, who is chairman of Trott's benefit committee at Warwickshire, told the Daily Telegraph: "Jonathan is going back to South Africa for a school reunion and the plan is then for him to come back and train with Warwickshire and to play in their friendly matches.”

England will be closely monitoring the progress of Trott, who has been among their most consistent performers since making his Test debut back in 2009, scoring 3,763 runs at an average of over 46.