Ottis Gibson has been appointed as England's permanent fast bowling coach.
West Indian quits Durham to take up permanent position
Ottis Gibson has been appointed as England's permanent fast bowling coach following the series success in Sri Lanka.
The 38-year-old took 80 wickets for Durham this season to earn the PCA Cricketer of the Year award.
He then took over from former South Africa seamer Allan Donald after the ICC Twenty20 tournament, and helped guide England to their first major series win on the subcontinent for 20 years.
He has been involved with the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) fast bowling programme at the national academy for four years and has high hopes for the future.
Qualities
Gibson said: "I am delighted to be a part of the England team in a full time capacity as bowling coach. I've thoroughly enjoyed working with the team over the past few weeks.
"As a level four qualified coach who's worked with both the senior England bowlers and several younger England bowlers, I feel I'm well equipped to take up the position.
"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.
"I'd like to thank the ECB for the opportunity to join the England team as well as Durham County Cricket Club for the support they've shown me throughout 2007. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club and wish them all the best for the future."
Backing
England skipper Paul Collingwood has welcomed his former Durham team-mate into the fold meanwhile and has backed Gibson to build on the early success.
"He's been fantastic," Collingwood told
Sky Sports News. "It's a credit to him the way he's communicated with the bowlers who've wanted to learn about new techniques, new slower balls in adapting to the conditions out here and he's been a massive part of that.
"It's not a bad time to hang your boots up either, he's obviously won the Player of the Year and had a fantastic season with Durham.
"Hopefully he can take this England team to the next level."
The news ends speculation that Gibson could take up a position with his native West Indies, and England will hope to see the rise continue against Sri Lanka in the Test series, which starts on 1st December.
