Photo Credit: Hobart Hurricanes
Ian Bell is the latest high-profile Englishman to sign on for KFC BBL|11, announcing that he is joining the Hobart Hurricanes for the 11th iteration of the Big Bash League in the role of assistant coach.Bell is a name synonymous with English cricket, as a top-order batter admired by cricket purists the world over. In an international career that spanned 11 years, Bell represented England in 118 Test matches, and also accrued 169 limited overs caps, in a career that amassed 13,331 international runs.
As well as a making a stack of first-class runs for Warwickshire, Bell also spent a season with the Perth Scorchers as a player, playing 10 matches for the West Australian club in BBL|06; the final year of the club’s impressive three-peat. Bell totaled 231 runs across nine innings at a strike rate of 126.92, reminding Australian cricket fans just how easily adaptable he is to Australian conditions.
After retiring from playing at the conclusion of England’s 2020 summer, Bell has set about building a career in coaching. Bell’s coaching began as a batting consultant for England’s U19 tour of the Caribbean, where they played a 50-over tri-series against West Indies and Sri Lanka. He then assisted Daniel Vettori with the Birmingham Phoenix franchise, who made the final of the inaugural Hundred competition. Bell has been in Dubai in recent weeks as a coach to the T10 team, the Chennai Braves.
“I’m so excited to be joining up with the Hurricanes and working alongside Adam Griffith,” Bell said. “The Big Bash is without doubt one of the best competitions in world cricket, and having previously taken part as a player, I can’t wait to get stuck in as a coach.”
“I already know a great deal about the team having either played with them before or having admired them from afar, and I’m certain we have got some serious talent in there. I was fortunate enough to win the BBL as a player and I would love nothing more than to be a small cog in a winning team but this time as a coach,” Bell concluded.
Bell will be joined by Tasmanian Tigers male program assistant coach, Wade Townsend, to complete a coaching staff of three alongside head coach, Adam Griffith.
The Hurricanes will kick off their KFC BBL|11 campaign at Launceston’s University of Tasmanian Stadium on Wednesday 8 December against reigning champions, the Sydney Sixers.
