Ian Bell Joins Sri Lanka as Batting Coach Ahead of Crucial England Tour

Sri Lanka appointed Ian Bell as their new batting coach just before their England tour, which includes three Tests. Bell, a former England cricketer with 7727 Test runs, will start his coaching role on August 16. The tour starts with the first Test in Manchester on August 21.

Sri Lanka has appointed Ian Bell as their new batting coach ahead of the highly-anticipated England tour, featuring three Test matches. The announcement came through Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) official website.

Bell, a former England cricketer who amassed 7727 runs in 118 Test matches, is set to join the team on August 16. According to SLC, his expertise and local knowledge will be invaluable for the team.

'Ian has a lot of experience playing in England, and we believe his inputs will help our team in this crucial tour,' said SLC CEO Ashley de Silva. The tour kicks off with the first Test in Manchester from August 21-25. Meanwhile, England's skipper Ben Stokes faces a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury.

(With inputs from agencies.)