Former England batsman Ian Bell has joined the Melbourne Renegades as assistant coach for the upcoming BBL season under head coach David Saker.

The Melbourne Renegades have finalized their coaching panel ahead of the KFC BBL13 and now have international experience.

England cricket legend Ian Bell will wear red this season, bringing a wealth of experience to David Saker's coaching group, including 287 games with England across all formats in a distinguished career spanning more than a decade.

Bell has expanded his coaching resume in recent years, having previously worked in the BBL for Hobart Hurricanes in 2021-22 as an assistant under then coach Adam Griffith.

He worked as a consultant with New Zealand ahead of the ODI World Cup this year and has also worked with England Under-19s, Derbyshire, Birmingham Phoenix and Chennai Braves in the Abu Dhabi T10.

Bell has playing experience in the BBL, having won a title with the Perth Scorchers in the 2016/17 season. Bell and Saker have worked together before, when Bell was an England player and Saker was an England assistant coach.

Bell will work with an experienced group of players that includes many long-time opponents, with Renegades adding Bell's former Ashes opponents Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon to an already experienced squad that includes Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh and Kane Richardson. He will also be familiar with foreign Renegades players Quinton de Kock, Joe Clarke and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.