Graeme Swann and Ian Bell join coaching set up for England Lions training camp in the UAE

Graeme Swann will act as a mentor for England Lions next week as he looks to expand his coaching career.

Swann, who was part of Hundred champions Trent Rockets’ backroom staff under Andy Flower last summer, has been engaged as a consultant alongside another former multiple Ashes winner in Ian Bell, who will help the batters on the trip.

‘In Ian Bell and Graeme Swann, we have two people with so much international experience, it’s brilliant to have them as part of the group, and I know everyone will be looking forward to working with them,’ said the ECB’s performance director Mo Bobat.

England legend Graeme Swann will act as a mentor for England Lions on trip to UAE

‘When you add to that the likes of James Anderson and Jofra Archer, who will be out in the UAE with us preparing and training, it’s sure to be a fantastic learning opportunity for the Lions players.’

Swann, second only to Derek Underwood in terms of England’s most prolific Test spinners, currently combines some coaching with media work.

But the impression he made at Trent Bridge last summer led the ECB to ask him to pass on knowledge gleaned during a career featuring more than 400 international wickets to Leicestershire leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, off-spinner Jack Carson, of Sussex, and Nottinghamshire’s slow left-armer Liam Patterson-White next week.

Former multiple Ashes winner Ian Bell will help the batters on the trip next week

Jon Lewis is the only ECB coach on Sunday’s trip to Abu Dhabi, where the Lions will prepare to face England in a pre-Pakistan Test tour warm-up contest later this month.

Others have been seconded from county cricket with Jim Troughton (Surrey) responsible for batting, Neil Killeen (Durham) pace bowling, Min Patel (Kent) spin and Paul Tweddle (Somerset) fielding and wicket-keeping.