The England and Wales Cricket Board today announced that Bob Cottam has been appointed as a specialist bowling coach to the England touring party to South Africa.

The former Northamptonshire, Hampshire and England pace bowler will remain with the Test squad until early December before returning to England to take charge of the pre-tour preparations for the One-Day-International (ODI) squad.

He will fly back to South Africa on January 11 with the six members of the ODI squad who are not in the Test squad and manage them during their 10-day acclimatisation period in Bloemfontein.

Bob will return to England once the acclimatisation period is complete and the England Head Coach, Duncan Fletcher, will take charge of the ODI squad for the remainder of the tour.

Bob, who began working with the England squad during the home Test series against South Africa in 1998, was Assistant Coach on England's Ashes tour of Australia last winter.

For further information contact:

Andrew Walpole, ECB Media Relations Manager - 0171 4321200