BRIEF-Cricket-Gooch to coach England batsmen before first test

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Former captain Graham Gooch will join the England coaching staff to help preparations for the first test with South Africa, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Saturday.

Gooch, who played 118 Tests for his country, will work with England's batsmen on a temporary basis in the build-up to the test in Centurion starting on Dec. 16.

"Graham is rightly regarded as one of the best batting coaches in international cricket and we are delighted to have secured his services for a key period of our preparations leading up to the first Test," said ECB managing director Hugh Morris.

(Writing by Toby Davis, editing by Justin Palmer; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

((justin.palmer@thomsonreuters.com; + 44 207 542 7933 Reuters Messaging: justin.palmer.reuters.com@reuters.net; For the Reuters sports blog Left Field go to: blogs.reuters.com/sport/))

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