Ottis Gibson offers some advice to James Anderson during England's current tour to Sri Lanka © Getty Images

Ottis Gibson, the former West Indies fast bowler, has been named England's fast-bowling coach. Gibson has been working with the England team on their tour to Sri Lanka, and has also been involved in the ECB Fast Bowling Programme at the National Cricket Performance Centre over the last four years.

"I am delighted to be a part of the England team in a full time capacity as bowling coach," Gibson said. "I've thoroughly enjoyed working with the team over the past few weeks in what has been a successful ODI tour of Sri Lanka." England wrapped up the five-match ODI series 3-2, and the stand-out aspect throughout was the performance of the bowlers.

"I feel I'm well equipped to take up the position as fast bowling coach," said Gibson, who will continue to work within the Fast Bowling Programme under Kevin Shine, the ECB's lead fast-bowling coach. "I've been involved with the ECB Fast Bowling Programme for a number of years now and have worked with both the senior England bowlers and several younger England bowlers. With the future looking so bright for England's bowling stocks, I'm extremely excited by the prospect of working alongside Kevin Shine with such a talented group of bowlers in both the Test and one-day arenas."

Hugh Morris, the managing director of England Cricket, said: "The contribution Ottis has made to the ECB Fast Bowling Programme over a period of time has been outstanding and this has been further supported by his work with the England ODI squad in Sri Lanka recently."

Gibson had a superb season with Durham in 2007: he finished with the most number of wickets that any bowler has taken in a season for Durham, and was named Most Valuable Player and Player of the Year. Gibson's international assignments with England this season will include a three-Test series in Sri Lanka in December, followed by a five-ODI and three-Test series in New Zealand early next year.