Mahela Jayawardene hopes his experience can help England build on their Ashes triumph when he joins the coaching staff for a tour of the UAE to face Pakistan.

England will take on Pakistan in three Tests, four ODIs and three Twenty20 fixtures in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

A 3-0 whitewashing sent a then top-ranked England packing with their tail tucked between their legs last time they headed to the gulf to face Pakistan.

But with one of the game's greatest players of spin bowling on board to advise and coach, and the momentum of an Ashes triumph behind them, Jaywardene has a positive outlook.

"It's been a great summer for them," Jayawardene told Omnisport. 

"It's a young English team and I'm looking forward to the challenge. Obviously if I can contribute in any way for them to progress it would be fantastic.

"I think a lot of hard work and a lot of concentration out there. It's not easy to beat Pakistan, but I'm sure the guys are capable of doing that, so we're looking forward to that challenge."

Former England batsman Allan Lamb hailed the work done by director of England cricket, Andrew Strauss, in drafting in Jayawardene and highlighted positive signs over the team's future.

"The exciting part is that Strauss has now got Mahela as a batting coach for the England team," Lamb said.

"Wow. That is unbelievable.

"It was never done in the past so it shows you what Strauss is doing. He's getting all the best players from all over the world to come and coach our players. It should have been done years ago. 

"Strauss is doing that, which is great. 

"It's going to be a tough tour for England, going to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The wicket is going to turn, it's going to be very hard work. 

"We're not there, we're not a ready thing... England was totally surprised at winning the Ashes.

"Australia played badly, we played a bit better than them and won it. What really excites me is that we've got so much talent here now, but it's going to take five years for us to be at the top of the table."