Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson will rub shoulders with one of cricket's all-time greats in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, with West Indies legend Brian Lara joining his Sunrisers Hyderabad team.
Lara, 52, will join Sunrisers Hyderabad as a strategic advisor and batting coach for the new season, alongside newly appointed bowling coach - South African great Dale Steyn.
As batting coach, the Blackcaps captain will work closely with Lara, who is unquestionably in the conversation as one of cricket's greatest batters.
In 131 tests, Lara scored 11953 runs - at the time a world record - at an average of 52.88 with 34 centuries - including a world-record high score of 400 not out. In 299 one-day internationals, Lara scored 10405 runs with 19 centuries, and a best of 169.
As one of cricket's most aggressive batters, Lara would have been perfect for the modern Twenty20 game, but retired as the shortest format began to explode into popularity, playing just three domestic matches, scoring one half-century.
Lara will support new Sunrisers coach, Australian Tom Moody, alongside former Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Simon Katich, who will work as an assistant coach.
Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan - test and ODI cricket's highest wicket-taker - is already the team's spin bowling coach.
Williamson was the only New Zealander retained by his IPL side for the 2022 season, re-signed by Sunrisers for NZ$2.7 million - the highest fee for a retained overseas player.
The Sunrisers' roster currently sits at three players, with uncapped Indian players Umran Malik and Abdul Samad also retained.
The team will have the chance to add more players to its squad during the IPL's two-day mega auction, held on February 12 and 13.
