Sri Lanka Cricket name Jon Lewis as batting coach

Former England cricketer Jon Lewis has been roped in by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) as batting coach of the national side, with an aim to do well in the World Cup next year.

He would thus fill in the role vacated by former Sri Lankan batsman Thilan Samaraweera, and would only assume the post after the upcoming two-match Test series comes to an end.

Lewis’ contract with the team runs to the end of the World Cup next year.

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Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva felt that Lewis’ inclusion would add that momentum in the batting department.

ESPN Cricinfo quoted him as saying, “With his expertise and experience, I believe, Lewis will be able to bring in the required impetus to our batting, which needs stability.”

Lewis coached the Durham county cricket team to the county championship title win in the year 2013. A veteran of 205 first class matches he scored 10,821 runs from 1990 to 2006, averaging 31.92 with 16 hundreds.

The two-match Test series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand would begin from December 15 to 30.