Gibson has been a leading figure in Durham's success this summer

He will replace South African Allan Donald, who is unavailable because of long-standing TV commitments.

Gibson, who played two Tests and 15 one-dayers for West Indies in the 1990s, has enjoyed a memorable summer.

He has taken 78 Championship wickets, including all 10 in an innings against Hampshire in July.

Interview: Durham bowler Otis Gibson

The 38-year-old also claimed 3-24 in the Friends Provident Trophy final at Lord's the following month as Durham beat Hampshire to win their first major trophy.

He has been offered a contract for next summer by the club, but is also keen to develop his coaching career and has expressed an interest in the vacant West Indies coach's post.

606: DEBATE Surely a person of Donald's experience should be treated with a bit more respect and given a contract for a couple of years rather than keep giving him a couple of weeks contract here and a few months there? whufc1985

England will play five limited overs internationals in Sri Lanka between 1 and 13 October. They then return home for almost a month before flying back to Sri Lanka in November for a three-Test series which lasts until three days before Christmas.

Gibson formerly worked for the England and Wales Cricket Board as one of its regional coaches, but found himself out of a job in 2004 because of cutbacks.

He was offered the chance to resume his playing career by Leicestershire and spent two seasons at Grace Road before moving north to join Durham.

Although he has played for West Indies in the past, he is now England qualified and could in theory be called on to play in an emergency if any players suffer injuries during the tour.

Donald, meanwhile, is still in negotiations with the ECB about a permanent contract, having been recruited earlier this year as part of head coach Peter Moores's new backroom team.

"He's got quite a tough decision because he's got a young family and he's obviously already done the international cricuit once as a player and has to decide whether he wants to go down that route again," said Moores.

Donald has also been linked with a possible return to former club Warwickshire to work alongside new director of cricket Ashley Giles.