Ian Bell joins Hobart Hurricanes as assistant coach

Ian Bell was a Big Bash champion with Perth Scorchers in 2016-17 but returns to the league five seasons later hoping to inspire Hobart Hurricanes to the title.

Bell retired from professional cricket at the end of the English domestic season in 2020 and has moved into coaching: he worked with England Under-19s as a batting coach across the 2019-20 winter and was part of Birmingham Phoenix's coaching staff during their run to the inaugural men's Hundred final this summer.

He has now been appointed as one of two assistant coaches at the Hurricanes ahead of their BBL season opener on December 8 against Sydney Sixers, the defending champions, and has arrived in Australia following a stint with Chennai Braves in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

"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."

Bell captained Warwickshire in their T20 guise as the Birmingham Bears during the 2016 Blast, during which Matthew Wade, the Hurricanes' captain, was one of their overseas players, while two of the Hurricanes' three international recruits - Jordan Thompson and Harry Brook - are compatriots.

"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," Bell said. "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."