Sri Lanka appoint Sanath Jayasuriya as interim coach ahead of Test tour to England

Jayasuriya replaces ex-England seamer and head coach Chris Silverwood, who stood down from his position following Sri Lanka's group-stage elimination at the T20 World Cup last month.

While Jayasuriya has never before coached a national side, he did have a spell as chair of selectors after ending a distinguished playing career in which he featured in 110 Tests and 445 ODIs.

The 55-year-old will oversee the side's fortunes in a home limited-overs series against India starting later this month, as well as three away Tests against Ben Stokes' England in August and September.

"Sanath, with his wealth of international cricketing experience, is well positioned to guide the national team until we find a permanent solution," Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva said.

Jayasuriya is one of Sri Lanka's most recognisable cricketing figures and was player of the tournament in their 1996 World Cup triumph, where his use as a pinch-hitting opening batter had immense success.

The former all-rounder, who also played for Somerset, Lancashire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire before retiring in 2012, has recently been serving as Sri Lanka's cricket consultant.

It has been his first official role since receiving a two-year ban from all cricket for failing to co-operate with an investigation into corruption after the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption Unit issued a demand to examine his mobile phones.