With an eye on ICC World T20 in India in 2016, England are planning to hire Mahela Jayawardene to gain some sub-continental intelligence. England’s team’s assistant coach Paul Farbrace, who was the coach of the 2014 World T20-winning Sri Lankan team, has already spoken to Jayawardene and England are waiting for team director Andrew Strauss to take a call, claimed the report.
In the past, England have hired legends from the sub-continent to bolster their team. Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed spent several years with the England team as its spin doctor and with the Three Lions poised to tour India, Bangladesh and UAE in the next year-and-a-half, 38-year-old Jayawardene’s inputs can only help.
With the World T20 happening in India next year, England are hoping to benefit from the expertise of Jayawardene in Asian conditions. Apart from the multi-team T20 event, England are also playing Pakistan in UAE, touring India and Bangladesh over the next 18 months, and Jayawardene being part of the coaching staff would help the England players adjust better to the Asian conditions.
Jayawardene earned an outstanding record as a batsman across the formats and around the world in an 18-year international career. But it is his expertise in Asian conditions, in particular, that interests England now. Over the next 18 months or so, England will play Pakistan in the UAE, tour India and Bangladesh, as well as host Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The 2016 World T20 is also in India.
Meanwhile, batting coach Mark Ramprakash’s contract will come to an end at the close of the season and it is unlikely to be renewed if England decide to employ Jayawardene and Collingwood as consultants.
