The European Central Bank have confirmed that the former Sri Lanka global has been hired as a batting coach, while Paul Collingwood will also be part of the management team this winter.
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Durham coach Paul Collingwood and Mahela Jayawardene will both join England’s management team in different consultancy roles, the European Central Bank have announced.
Jayawardene will work with the Test batsmen until the end of the first Test against Pakistan, while Collingwood, previously involved as a part-time England coach, will assist the limited-overs group in the UAE, where pitches are renowned for aiding spin.
“The one thing we need to do is get better on the subcontinent, and he’s (Jayawardene) one of the best ever”, he said.
One of Jayawardene’s tasks will be to pass on his knowledge of playing spin after the problems England had during the 2012 series against Pakistan in the UAE.
To have his input leading into the series, and all the preparation, is going to be huge for us, Bell added. “I’m really looking forward to that”, Bell said.
Collingwood, England’s most-capped ODI player with 197 appearances, added: “I can’t tell Jos Buttler how to hit a reverse sweep over backward point but hopefully I can create the confidence in their game to go and do it out in the middle without any fear”.
Bell suggested that by giving Moeen Ali a chance to open the batting, England can afford the luxury of an extra bowler.
“It’s a squad with a lot of possibilities”.
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England are slated to play Pakistan in three tests, four ODIs and three T20s between October 13 and November 30 in the UAE.
