England boss Chris Silverwood will hold talks with James Anderson over the next week to discuss him joining the Sri Lanka tour as a consultant bowling coach.
Anderson was ruled out of the tour as a player as he continues to recover from the broken rib injury he sustained in South Africa.
The 37-year-old had only just comeback from a side injury he picked up in the Ashes when his rib was damaged by bowling his way to 5-40 in the win in Cape Town before missing the final two Tests.
With his chance of playing in Sri Lanka also gone, England's record Test match wicket taker may now be asked to fill a coaching role on the trip in much the same way that Darren Gough did briefly during the New Zealand tour last year.
England have not filled the position of fast bowling coach since Silverwood was promoted from the role to head coach and have used temporary consultants instead.
Anderson already fulfils a mentoring and advisory role among England fast bowlers, and this would be a chance for him to develop his coaching skills with the day he becomes an ex-cricketer moving ever closer.
There is currently no threat to the tour from the Coronavirus outbreak in Asia, but England's players will each be issued with an immunity pack ahead of the trip which contains supplies of antibacterial wipes and gels.
The team were laid low by a virus in South Africa and they are keen to make sure it doesn't happen again.
A spokesman said: “A number of precautionary measures will be implemented for players’ and officials’ travelling to Sri Lanka to ensure immunity is at the best possible levels to avoid any illnesses.”
The first test of England's tour starts in Galle on March 19.
