Ian Bell Joins Sri Lanka as Batting Coach for England Tour

Sri Lanka has brought on Ian Bell as their batting coach for the upcoming three-Test series in England this month.

The former England and Warwickshire batsman, who will begin his duties on Friday, is set to provide valuable insights when the first Test kicks off at Old Trafford on Wednesday, 21 August.

Bell, now 42, boasts extensive experience from his 118-Test career with England, spanning from 2004 to 2015. Sri Lanka aims to leverage his deep understanding of English conditions to gain an edge during the tour.

Ashley de Silva, the chief executive of Sri Lanka Cricket, stated that Bell was appointed to offer local expertise and to guide the players with critical knowledge about the conditions they will face. He expressed confidence that Bell’s input would be instrumental in the team’s success during this important series.

Bell will be working alongside former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who took over from ex-England head coach Chris Silverwood last month. This change in leadership followed Sri Lanka’s early exit from the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States.

Previously, Bell was part of the coaching staff for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred and had a similar coaching stint with New Zealand during their white-ball tour of England last year, leading up to the 2023 Cricket World Cup.