Ian Bell Named Sri Lanka's Batting Coach for England Tour

Former England cricketer Ian Bell has been appointed as Sri Lanka's batting coach ahead of their England tour. The appointment aims to leverage his local expertise. Sri Lanka hopes to maintain their winning momentum following a 2-0 ODI series victory over India.

In a strategic move to gain an upper hand, former England cricketer Ian Bell has been appointed as Sri Lanka's batting coach for their upcoming tour of England. This decision follows Sri Lanka's recent 2-0 ODI series triumph over India, which has boosted their confidence. The three-match Test series is scheduled to begin on August 21. Bell will assume his coaching duties five days prior on August 16.

'We appointed Ian to bring in a person with local knowledge to help the players, with key insights into the conditions there,' said SLC CEO Ashley De Silva in a statement. 'Ian has a wealth of experience playing in England, and we believe his inputs will be invaluable for our team's success in this crucial tour,' De Silva added.

Since retiring in 2020, Bell has accumulated extensive coaching experience, including roles with England men's U-19 and England Lions teams, Big Bash League's Hobart Hurricanes, Derbyshire, and the New Zealand men's side during last year's ODI World Cup. His most recent assignment was as the assistant coach for Melbourne Renegades in the BBL and Birmingham Phoenix in the Men's Hundred.

England wicketkeeper batter Jamie Smith, who has worked with Bell, commended his coaching skills. 'He's reminded me a few times that he'll be in the opposite camp during this series,' Smith told Sky Sports.

Renowned for his playing days, Bell amassed 7,727 runs in 118 Test appearances and 5,416 runs in 161 ODIs for England. His experience at the highest level is expected to be a significant asset for Sri Lanka as they head into a challenging tour.

(With inputs from agencies.)