Sri Lanka Name Ian Bell As Batting Coach for England Tour

Former England player Ian Bell was named Tuesday as Sri Lanka's batting coach for the three-match Test series against England. Sri Lanka Cricket said the 42-year-old former right-hand batter was hired to draw on his experience of playing 118 Tests for England.

"We appointed Ian to bring in a person with local knowledge to help the players with key insights on the conditions there," Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva said.

"We believe his inputs will help our team in this crucial tour." Sri Lanka appointed former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya last month to replace head coach Chris Silverwood, who quit following the country's early exit from the T20 World Cup.