England appoint Eric Simons to Stephen Fleming’s Test coaching team

England are set to add the first name to Stephen Fleming’s backroom team, with Eric Simons joining as Test bowling coach.

Former South Africa head coach Simons is a long-time ally of Fleming, having worked alongside him in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Chennai Super Kings.

Simons’ new role will be confirmed on Monday, when England announce the latest round of central contracts.

New Zealander Fleming is assembling a backroom team for his first series in charge, against South Africa in December.

The shake-up in the staff comes as England once again split head-coaching responsibilities across formats. Fleming is in charge of the Test side and Brendon McCullum leads the white-ball teams.

When McCullum was Test coach, England used a number of fast-bowling consultants, including James Anderson, David Saker and Tim Southee.

Saker will be part of the England staff for the one-day tri-series in Pakistan this month, alongside long-term McCullum assistant Jeetan Patel, Mike Yardy and Carl Hopkinson.

Southee and fielding coach Sarah Taylor, who have been with England throughout the home summer, might rejoin the team later in the winter.

Kevin Pietersen has been appointed as a batting consultant to the white-ball teams in the run-up to the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa.

Former England batter Pietersen will not be on the tour of Pakistan, but is due to join the squad for the white-ball tour of Australia and then in South Africa for the three one-day internationals in the country of his birth in January.

Marcus Trescothick took interim charge of the Test team for the series against Pakistan. His future in the England set-up has been the subject of speculation and is yet to be confirmed.

Simons, 64, played 23 one-day internationals for South Africa in 1994 and 1995.

He also worked with Fleming at the Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 and the Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket.

Simons had two years in charge of the South Africa team between 2002 and 2004 and a spell as India’s bowling coach.