SLC ropes in Ian Bell as batting coach ahead of away Test series vs England

NEW DELHI: Ian Bell, a former England batsman, has been named as the batting coach for the Sri Lankan national team. The announcement was made by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on their official website on Tuesday.Bell, who amassed an impressive 7727 runs in 118 Tests during his career, is set to begin his coaching duties with the Sri Lankan side later this week. His appointment comes as the team prepares for their upcoming tour of England, which will feature three Test matches."He will start working with the team from August 16 and remain until the conclusion of the three-Test match series," PTI quoted SLC as saying.SLC CEO Ashley de Silva expressed: "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 inputs will help our team in this crucial tour.The England cricket team is set to host Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series, commencing on August 21. The opening encounter will take place at Manchester's iconic venue from August 21-25.Subsequently, the action will shift to the historic Lord's Cricket Ground for the second Test, scheduled from August 29 to September 2. The series will conclude with the third and final Test at The Oval in London, spanning from September 6-10.However, the home team's preparations have been dealt a potential blow, as their talismanic captain Ben Stokes suffered a hamstring injury during a match in The Hundred tournament last Sunday.The incident occurred while Stokes was batting, and he required assistance to leave the field. The extent of the injury was assessed through scans, and he was later observed using crutches for support.With the first Test against Sri Lanka just around the corner, England's medical team will be working diligently to ensure Stokes' availability for the crucial series.The all-rounder's presence is vital for the team's balance and leadership, making his fitness a top priority in the lead-up to the opening match in Manchester.