England batsman Ian Bell has stated that Mahela Jayawardene can help to improve the side's record on the subcontinent in his consultancy role.

The ECB has confirmed that the former Sri Lanka international has been hired as a batting coach, while Paul Collingwood will also be part of the management team this winter.

Jayawardene will join England's tour of the United Arab Emirates for their three-match Test series against Pakistan next month, and Bell has said that he is excited to work with him.

"The one thing we need to do is get better on the subcontinent, and he's one of the best ever," Bell told BBC Sport.

"To have his input leading into the series, and all the preparation, is going to be huge for us. I'm really looking forward to that.

"He was certainly hard to get out in those conditions, so I'll be picking his brain all the way through if I can, probably badgering him a bit too much, but trying to get everything I can out of him to make my game better."

The first Test match against Pakistan begins in Abu Dhabi on October 13.