Kallis takes over from Graham Thorpe, England’s permanent batting coach, and Marcus Trescothick, who both served on England’s aborted white-ball tour of South Africa.
Nothing has yet been agreed between the ECB and Kallis about the four-Test tour of India which is scheduled to follow England’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka.
Another temporary appointment might therefore be more significant in the long term, that of spin-bowling consultant for the Sri Lanka tour: Jeetan Patel, the former New Zealand off-spinner, who has been virtually inked in as England’s first full-time spin-bowling coach.
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Patel made a favourable impression when drafted into England’s management team in South Africa last winter, and not only as a coaching consultant for England’s spinners. He was widely respected for his general cricket sense and knowledge.