Follow UsWith the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 starting in a couple of days' time in Ahmedabad, defending champions England don’t want to keep any stone unturned for the event. To prepare for the left-arm seam bowling challenge, which will have its own impact in India, England have roped in Indian sidearm specialist Saurabh Ambatkar, reported ESPN Cricinfo.
39-year-old Ambatkar was a former age-group cricketer who represented Mumbai and Vidarbha, and he will be with the England squad for the entirety of the World Cup. Ambatkar was earlier a part of the support staff at Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in International League T20.
He has now joined England’s core coaching staff led by head coach Matthew Mott. England have batting coach Marcus Trescothick, fielding coach Carl Hopkinson, spin bowling coach Richard Dawson and seam-bowling coach David Saker in their coaching group as well.
In the opening game of the tournament, England batters will face Trent Boult, one of the finest left-arm seamers in world cricket at the moment, and subsequently, the likes of Mitchell Starc, Shaheen Afridi, and Mustafizur Rahman will come into play.