Indian Sidearm Specialist to Help England Prepare for Left-arm Fast Bowlers During World Cup

An Indian sidearm specialist will be prepping the England cricket team for the left-arm pacers they are expected to face during the ICC ODI World Cup in India.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Saurabh Ambatkar will be traveling with English team throughout the world cup to help their coaching staff with preparations for each game.

Ambatkar reportedly joined England last week in Guwahati.

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Former opener Marcus Trescothick is England’s batting coach and is part of their backroom staff that includes head coach Matthew Mott, spin bowling coach Richard Dawson, seam bowling coach David Saker and fielding coach Carl Hopkinson.

Ambatkar has been previously associated with two-time IPL winners Kolkata Knight Riders as part of their support staff.

Defending champions England will lock horns with New Zealand in the tournament opener on Thursday to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

England are slated to leave for Ahmedabad from Guwahati on Tuesday afternoon and will practice tomorrow before staring their campaign a day later.

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England’s first warm-up fixture against India was abandoned with a ball bowled due to rain and the second one was also impacted by the weather.

They took on Bangladesh at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in a rain-curtailed affair, recording a four-wicket win.

England are set to play across as many as eight venues during the league stage including in Ahmedabad, Dharamsala, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Pune and Kolkata.

England allrounder Moeen Ali said the team is all geared up to face ‘dangerous’ New Zealand.

“We are ready, we’ve got enough time. It’s going to be a massive game, we know New Zealand are a dangerous side. We are ready,” he said after the Bangladesh warm-up match on Monday.

England will have a break of four days after the opening clash before they take on Bangladesh up north in Dharamsala.