Ian Bell, the ex-English cricketer has been appointed as Sri Lanka new red ball batting coach. Everyone is contesting for the remaining matches of the World Test Championship, with England again being one of those sides that are competing for the most matches in the longest format of the game.
Sri Lanka, which has played the fewest matches, will be on their tour to England to compete against the Three Lions. The Lankan players are unaware of the recent conditions at the pitches across England. Even the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya, who has been placed as their interim coach, might need someone’s expertise in the area.
Ex-English batsman Ian Bell retired internationally from cricket in 2020, and since then he has not bid adieu to the game with his several stints as a coach. Bell has been in the front with both domestic as well as national sides across the world, and this has only added to his brilliance as well as experience.
SLC CEO Ashley De Silva said (Source: ESPNcricinfo)
“We appointed Ian to bring in a person with local knowledge to help the players with key insights on the conditions there. Ian has a lot of experience playing in England, and we believe his inputs will help our team in this crucial tour,”
Starting his coaching career with the England U-19 Men’s team, he has been in the deck for the Three Lions. Domestically as well, Bell has been an asset for many sides across formats, as he served either as an assistant coach or a batting consultant for Derbyshire, the Hobart Hurricanes, and the Melbourne Renegades as well.
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However, the most recognizable feats in his career remain with the New Zealand team as their assistant coach before the World Cup last year, also being seen for the last time in The Hundred as Birmingham Phoenix’s assistant coach, which he resigned to take up his spot in the Lankan side.
Sri Lanka reported their squad for the England tour, while Dhananjaya de Silva has been announced as their skipper to lead them across the 3 tests to be played at Manchester, Lord’s, and the Oval. Let’s see what special Bell can bring to the Lankan side.
