The England and Wales Cricket Board today named Graham Dilley as assistant coach for the forthcoming Test series in India. Dilley, who took 138 wickets in 41 Tests between 1979-80 and 1989, has previously worked with the England Women's side, and is currently coach at Loughborough University Centre of Cricketing Excellence.

It completes a fairytale return to big-time cricket for Dilley, who fell on hard times after injury brought his county career – he played for Kent and Worcestershire – to a premature close. He has been much-seen on TV highlights this summer – he was at the other end while Ian Botham was making merry against the Aussies at Headingley in 1981. Dilley made 56 – and was dropped for the next Test.

Dilley, who is now 42, said: "It will be a huge thrill for me to be part of an England dressing-room again this winter, and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of working with Duncan Fletcher, the players and the rest of the management team."

John Carr, the ECB's director of cricket operations, said: "Graham enjoys an excellent reputation within the game as a coach and we are delighted to have secured his services. We are most grateful to Loughborough UCCE for their co-operation in releasing him for the Test series in India."

Tim Boon, the former Leicestershire batsman who now coaches England's Under-19 team, will be the assistant coach for the ODI series in Zimbabwe in October. Assistant coaches for the ODI series in India and New Zealand, and the Test series in New Zealand, will be named shortly.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd