Warwickshire batsman Trevor Penney on Thursday announced his retirement from first class cricket to enable him to join the coaching team that will prepare Sri Lanka for the 2007 World Cup.
Penney, regarded as one of the best fielders in English cricket, has been appointed as Assistant Coach to the Sri Lankan team on a contract that runs up until the World Cup in the West Indies.
The 37-year-old will work closely with newly-appointed Head Coach Tom Moody, a former Warwickshire batsman himself and a former coach of county rivals Worcestershire.
Zimbabwe-born Penney said the opportunity of working with the Sri Lankans was too good to miss.
Dennis Amiss, Warwickshires Chief Executive paid tribute to Penney's contribution to the county.
Penney was one of the substitute fielders controversially used by England in the recent Ashes Tests against Australia and had been due to spend the winter as a specialist fielding coach at the National Academy at Loughborough.
The England and Wales Cricket Board have agreed to release Penney from his commitment to enable him to take up the Sri Lanka job.