Sussex assistant coach Jon Lewis will work with the England Lions and Perth Scorchers this winter.

Lewis will take over as fast-bowling coach for the Lions following Chris Silverwood’s appointment to the senior national side.

He will work with the squad for a training camp in Australia and the Test-match part of the tour to the West Indies after Christmas.

The call-up represents major recognition for Lewis, who is widely expected to be a candidate for the vacant head coach post at Hove.

Between his Lions assignments, Lewis will head to Western Australia where he will assist Big Bash League side Perth Scorchers alongside their head coach Justin Langer.

He will report back to The 1st Central County Ground at the beginning of March in time for Sussex’s pre-season programme.

Lewis said: “I am extremely excited about the prospect of coaching the England Lions on tour in Australia and the Caribbean and the Perth Scorchers in one of the highest profile T20 tournaments in the world, the Big Bash.

“I will be working with two world-class head coaches in Andy Flower and Justin Langer and assisting with the coaching of some of the most talented cricketers in the world.

“I have no doubt that the opportunity of working at this top level will provide diverse, worldwide experiences that will be invaluable to bring back to Sussex for the 2018 season.”

Andy Flower, the Lions head coach, said: “We’re very happy for Chris, who has added significantly to our programme in the past, most recently in Sri Lanka last winter, in addition to the success he has had as a head coach with Essex.

“It left us with a vacancy but we are delighted to have an outstanding replacement in Jon Lewis – and we are very grateful to Keith Greenfield and Rob Andrew at Sussex for being so flexible and supportive in moving so quickly to allow Jon to join us now.

“Jon has worked with the Young Lions programme in the past, and in addition to his pedigree as an international bowler, he travelled to Australia with the Lions himself back in 2006, which was my first with the programme as an assistant to Peter Moores.”