England Seek Mahela Jayawardene as Consultant for Limited-Overs Cricket

With an eye on ICC World T20 in India in 2016, England are planning to hire Mahela Jayawardene to gain some sub-continental intelligence. According to a report in a cricket website, the England and Wales Cricket Board has approached the Sri Lankan great to work as a batting specialist. A decision has been left to ECB's team director Andrew Strauss.

In the past, England have hired legends from the sub-continent to bolster their team. Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed spent several years with the England team as its spin doctor and with the Three Lions poised to tour India, Bangladesh and UAE in the next year-and-a-half, 38-year-old Jayawardene's inputs can only help. (Jayawardene to Build Grassroot Cricket in Sri Lanka)

ESPNCricinfo reports that Jayawardene, an outstanding batsman with a World Cup 2011 century in Mumbai, has been sent feelers by Paul Farbrace, who coached Sri Lanka to the World T20 title in 2014. Jayawardene will not be a stranger in the English camp considering the fact that head coach Trevor Bayliss has been Sri Lanka's coach before.

England have utilized specialists as consultants for limited-overs cricket. Former skipper Paul Collingwood could also join forces and may replace Mark Ramprakash, whose contract is going to end soon.

With his best friend and teammate Kumar Sangakkara close to international retirement, Jayawardene, 448 ODIs wise, may be thinking of options after deciding to quit competitive cricket in the near future. The English role could just be the start of several coaching offers for an immensely gifted batsman. (Jayawardene Retired after Sri Lanka's World Cup Exit)