Bell keen to make most of Mahela advice
England batsman Ian Bell is excited about the prospect of learning from Sri Lanka batting legend Mahela Jayawardene, who will be a batting consultant for England over the next few months.
Jayawardene will be with the side for the tour to the UAE to face Pakistan next month, and Bell says he'll be bending the recently retired batsman's ear about spin batting and the conditions.
Bell said: "The one thing we need to do is get better on the subcontinent, and he's one of the best ever.
"To have his input leading into the series, and all the preparation, is going to be huge for us. I'm really looking forward to that.
"He was certainly hard to get out in those conditions, so I'll be picking his brain all the way through if I can, probably badgering him a bit too much, but trying to get everything I can out of him to make my game better."
The last time England went to the UAE, they lost 3-0 to Pakistan, and Bell hopes he's learned from that experience, and that the spinners are able to do well. He also expects a more flexible approach to the batting order.
He added: "Experience tells me in the UAE you have to be flexible, you have to go for a different style of cricket.
"We have to look for another alternative when we go to the subcontinent. We potentially might be opening with a spinner, so to have the option of having two or even three spinners is nice.
"If Mo does get an opportunity to open the batting then it gives us another slot for us to get another bowler in, which is interesting. It's a squad with a lot of possibilities."
Latest
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.