The Warwickshire and former New Zealand off-spinner was part of England's backroom team in their recent T20 series win over his home country.

Patel, 39, will join England two days before the first Test against South Africa, which begins on Boxing Day.

He will play his final match for Wellington on 18 December, ending a 20-year career with the Firebirds.

Patel, however, remains contracted to Warwickshire for 2020.

England will play four Tests, three one-day internationals and three T20s in South Africa before travelling to Sri Lanka for two Tests at the end of March.