New Delhi: Sri Lanka has appointed Ian Bell as batting coach for their upcoming three-match Test series against England.
The former England batter has played in 118 Test matches for his country and Sri Lanka want to tap in on his considerable experience during the tour.
“We appointed Ian to bring in a person with local knowledge to help the players with key insights on the conditions there,” Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva said, as quoted by AFP.
“We believe his inputs will help our team in this crucial tour.”
The 42-year-old right hander will assist former Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, who assumed the head coach last month and helped them beat India 2-0 in a three-match ODI series.
Jayasuriya replaced Chris Silverwood, who resigned after the country’s dismal performance leading to early exit from the T20 World Cup, held in the Caribbean and USA in June.
Silverwood was in charge since April 2022 and helped Lanka win the T20 Asia Cup that year but failed to take the team to the knockouts of T20 World Cup in 2022.
They then reached the final of the 50-over Asia Cup in 2023 but then couldn’t advance to the knockout stages of ODI World Cup after which they stumbled in the T20 World Cup in June.
Sri Lanka could win only one match – against the Netherlands – at the T20 World Cup. They finished third in their group behind South Africa and Bangladesh and failed to qualify further.
Bell replaces former Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene who followed Silverwood to leave his job as batting consultant.
The 55-year-old Jayasuriya, 55 has been appointed on “interim” basis as the SLC remains in the hunt to find a full-time appointment.
Former England batter Ian Bell has played in 118 Test matches for his country and Sri Lanka want to tap in on his considerable experience during the tour. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
