Thorpe is batting coach at Surrey, where he spent 17 years as a player

Former England batsman Graham Thorpe will be the England Lions batting coach for the tour of the United Arab Emirates in February.

Thorpe, who holds the same role with Surrey, joins performance director David Parsons and fast bowling coach Kevin Shine on the coaching staff.

Thorpe played 100 Tests for England, averaging 44.66 with the bat.

"It's a great opportunity for me and I'm grateful to Surrey for giving me the freedom to take it on," he said.

"Over the course of my time with the team, I hope that I can offer them some good advice and be someone they learn a lot from."

606: DEBATE A good addition to the coaching team?

The Lions - England's second-string side will play Pakistan A in three Twenty20 matches and will also face the UAE and the full England side in the shortest form of the game.

They will then play three 50-over matches against Pakistan A in Dubai.

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