Ian Bell appointed Sri Lanka batting coach
Sri Lanka Cricket said the 42-year-old former right-handed batsman has been appointed based on his experience of playing 118 Tests for England. Former England player Ian Bell was on Tuesday appointed Sri Lanka’s batting coach for the three-match Test series against England. Sri Lanka Cricket said the 42-year-old former right-handed batsman has been appointed based on his experience of playing 118 Tests for England.
“We have appointed Ian to bring in a person with local knowledge, so that the players can get important information about the conditions there,” Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva said. “We are confident that his suggestions will help our team on this important tour.”
Sri Lanka last month appointed former captain Sanath Jayasuriya to replace head coach Chris Silverwood, who stepped down after the country’s early exit from the T20 World Cup. Jayasuriya, 55, will be the “interim” coach until a full-time appointment is made for the national team. Jayasuriya represented Sri Lanka 586 times across all three formats of the game, scoring 42 centuries and taking 440 wickets. He played his last international match in 2011.
Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed former England cricketer Ian Bell as the batting coach for their upcoming tour of England, which is scheduled to start in August 2024. Bell, known for his successful career with England, brings a wealth of experience to the Sri Lankan team. His appointment aims to enhance the team’s batting performance in the challenging English conditions.
The Sri Lankan Cricket Board expressed confidence in Bell’s ability to work closely with the players, helping them adapt and improve their techniques against England’s bowlers. This strategic move is part of Sri Lanka’s broader effort to strengthen their coaching staff.
Personal reasons
Former England coach Silverwood, 49, stepped down for “personal reasons”, according to Sri Lanka Cricket. Sri Lanka won only one match in the T20 World Cup tournament, against the Netherlands, and finished third in their group behind South Africa and Bangladesh. Silverwood took over in April 2022 and was an instant success as Sri Lanka won the T20 Asia Cup that year.
Sri Lanka then reached the final of the 50-over Asia Cup in 2023. However, they failed to make it to the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup in 2022 and last year’s 50-over World Cup. Jayasuriya, 55, will be the “interim” coach for the national team until a full-time appointment is made. Jayasuriya represented Sri Lanka 586 times across all three formats of the game, including 42 centuries and 440 wickets. He played his last international match in 2011.
Won only one match against the Netherlands in the tournament
According to Sri Lanka Cricket, Silverwood, the former England coach, stepped down for “personal reasons”. Sri Lanka won only one match against the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup tournament and finished third in their group behind South Africa and Bangladesh.
Silverwood took over in April 2022 and was an instant success when Sri Lanka won the T20 Asia Cup that year Bell, 42, played 118 Tests for England between 2004 and 2015, with Sri Lanka hoping he will use his knowledge of English cricket to their advantage.
We have appointed Ian to bring in a local knowledgeable person, so that the players can get important information about the conditions there,” Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva said.
HELPING OUR TEAM IN IMPORTANT TOUR
We are confident his inputs will help our team in this important tour, Bell will work under former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who replaced former England head coach Chris Silverwood after Sri Lanka’s early exit from the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States last month.
Bell, who most recently worked as part of the Birmingham Phoenix coaching set-up in The Hundred, held a similar role during New Zealand’s white-ball tour of England last year ahead of the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Batting coach of teams
Since his retirement in 2020, Bell has worked extensively as a coach. He has previously served as the batting coach of the England men’s Under-19 and England Lions teams, assistant coach at the Hobart Hurricanes, consultant batting coach at Derbyshire and assistant coach of the New Zealand men’s team ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Most recently, he served as assistant coach at Melbourne Renegades in the BBL and has been assistant coach of the Birmingham Phoenix team in the Men’s Hundred.
Conclusion
Former England player Ian Bell was on Tuesday appointed as Sri Lanka’s batting coach for the three-match Test series against England. The 42-year-old former right-handed batsman has been appointed to draw on his experience of playing 118 Tests for England, Sri Lanka Cricket said.
We have appointed Ian to bring in a person with local knowledge, so that the players can gain important insight into the conditions there,” Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva said. “We are confident his inputs will help our team on this important tour.” Sri Lanka last month appointed former captain Sanath Jayasuriya as head coach, replacing Chris Silverwood, who stepped down after the country’s early exit from the T20 World Cup.
