Dinesh Karthik to help coach England Lions in India
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has been enlisted to assist England Lions’ preparations in India. He will join the squad’s coaching set-up for the first nine days of the tour to impart his knowledge of Indian conditions as a batting consultant. Karthik, who has also had a successful career in the media as a commentator for Sky Sports, will work under head coach Neil Killeen and alongside full-time assistants Richard Dawson and Carl Hopkinson, as well as mentor Graeme Swann, the former England spinner.
Karthik’s stint will provide cover for the Lions’ other batting consultant, Ian Bell, who will join the squad on January 18 after completing his stint as assistant coach with Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s Big Bash League.
The tour will comprise three four-day matches against India A in Ahmedabad and will run concurrently with the senior squad’s five-Test tour of India, which begins on January 25. Lancashire’s Josh Bohannon will captain the 15-man squad, which features a number of recent England Test caps and up-and-coming prospects.
“It’s great to have such a strong coaching group supporting our players for what should be an exciting challenge versus India A,” said Mo Bobat, England Men’s Performance Director. “The group has a deep and diverse set of experiences and expertise.”
The coaching group also includes Ian Bell and Graeme Swann, both of whom were key members of the England Test team that won in India in 2012-13, the most recent series victory by a visiting team to the country.
“Carl Hopkinson and Richard Dawson have extensive pathway experience and bring with them an England senior coaching perspective, and recent experience of Indian conditions,” added Bobat. “And it’s fantastic to have Dinesh Karthik with us for a part of our prep period and leading into the first Test. I’m sure the lads will love spending time with him and benefiting from his experience of what it takes to be successful at Test level in India.”
The England Lions squad includes players like Keaton Jennings, Callum Parkinson, and Ollie Robinson, with Josh Bohannon as captain.
