The former English batsman Ian Bell has been named as the Sri Lanka batting coach for the upcoming tour of England. Sri Lanka is set to play a three-match test series starting on August 21.
Ian Bell will begin his role on August 16 and will last till the end of the series. While speaking in the media, SLC CEO Ashley De Silva said, “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 input will help our team in this crucial tour.”
Sri Lanka Cricket appointed former England batsman Ian Bell as the ‘Batting Coach’ of the national team for the ongoing tour.https://t.co/CvaM44DSM0 #ENGvSL
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) August 13, 2024
Ian Bell has played 287 matches across all formats and amassed 13,331 runs. “He’s reminded me a few times that he’s going to be in the opposite camp in this series,” said England batter Jamie Smith. Sri Lanka will hope Bell’s experience helps them win their first test series in England since 2014.
SLC announced the Sri Lanka squad for the England test last week with Dhananjaya De Silva leading the team. The first test will begin on August 21 at Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
Sri Lanka squad for England tests: Dhananjaya De Silva (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (vc), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Nisala Tharaka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake
