Ian Bell, the former England cricket star, has been appointed as the batting coach for Sri Lanka ahead of their three-match Test series against England. The announcement was made by Sri Lanka Cricket, highlighting Bell's 118-Test experience for England as a significant factor in their decision.
Sri Lanka Cricket's chief executive, Ashley de Silva, emphasised the importance of bringing in someone with local knowledge to provide valuable insights into the conditions the Sri Lankan team will face. De Silva expressed optimism that Bell’s expertise would greatly benefit the players during this critical tour.
This appointment comes amidst a broader restructuring of Sri Lanka's coaching staff. Recently, former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya was named the interim head coach after Chris Silverwood resigned due to personal reasons following Sri Lanka's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup.
Jayasuryia's extensive international experience, which includes 586 matches and impressive contributions with both bat and ball, is expected to guide the team in the interim until a permanent head coach is found. It's worth noting that Chris Silverwood had previously enjoyed success with the team, including a T20 Asia Cup victory in 2022 and a 50-over Asia Cup final appearance in 2023. However, a series of lacklustre performances in key ICC tournaments prompted his departure.
Bell's role is viewed as a strategic enhancement to Sri Lanka's capabilities, particularly given his understanding of English playing conditions, which could prove pivotal in the upcoming Test series against England.