The Bangladesh Cricket Board is set to appoint renowned English power-hitting coach Julian Wood for a three-week camp ahead of the Asia Cup. Wood, who has previously worked in BPL, IPL, and various international sides, aims to instill power in Tigers’ batting so that they are feared as a batting group. In an interview with ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·â€™s Tarif Akhlaq, the 56-year-old shared his vision, his training methods, and the outcome from this assignment, which is scheduled from August 10 to September 3. Here are the excerpts:
¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·: You've worked in the BPL before. How did this opportunity with the national team come about?
Julian Wood: I've done two BPLs, and even back then, there was talk of me working with the national side. It didn’t materialise at the time, but now it has, and I’m really pleased. Phil Simmons, the head coach, reached out. I’ve worked with him before, and he asked if I was available. We found this three-week window just before the Asia Cup, which is good.
NA: What are your primary goals for this special camp?
Wood: In global T20 cricket, teams like England, India, and Australia are well ahead, especially in terms of strike rates and batting impact. My goal is to help Bangladesh close that gap. I want to improve strike rates, especially at the top and middle order, and help the team develop an intimidation factor and make them sort of feared as a batting group. It's not just about power, but skill and touch as well, with players who can score quickly and take a game away.
NA: Bangladesh players are often considered less physically gifted. How do you address that?
Wood: It’s true that physicality helps, and you see the West Indies and England players. But small guys can hit big too. It comes down to rhythm, timing, and the sequencing of movements. These are the areas I’ll be focusing on. There's no point that the smaller guys can't hit big sixes; you have to use your body efficiently.
NA: Is three weeks enough time to make an impact?
Wood: Three weeks is certainly better than nothing, and it’s actually a decent amount of time. I’m in Sri Lanka at the moment doing a similar job—though they only have a week. Once I speak with Phil and finalise the structure, I believe we can achieve a lot in this period. If we can raise awareness, improve strike rates, and expand shot options, that’s a big win.
NA: From your BPL experience, did you notice any common technical issues in Bangladeshi batters?
Wood: They’re very good players—quite wristy and skilled, much like the Sri Lankans. But many of them are handsy—they rely more on hands than body movement. I don’t want to take away their natural strengths, but I do want to teach them how to use their body to generate more force.
NA: Bangladesh has been looking for finishers in limited-overs formats. How can you help them to develop in that area?Ìý
Wood: It starts with exposure. The earlier, the better. This type of training should begin at the Under-19 level. In fact, this whole conversation began four years ago, so I’d say they’re four years behind. If we start now with younger players, then in four years, they’ll be ready. I’d love to see a similar power-hitting initiative for the Under-19s ahead of their World Cup in February.
NA: How do you actually help players add power to their batting?
Wood: Strength and conditioning is key—but it's not just about lifting weights. I use functional training methods, like overload training with heavier bats. It’s all about mimicking actual batting movements to strengthen the specific muscles used in power-hitting. It’s purposeful training.
NA: If this camp is successful, would you be open for a long-term role?
Wood: Absolutely. I’ve been to Bangladesh before, and the players already know me. That helps a lot with trust, which is vital in coaching. Development happens when players believe in what you're delivering. Though this is a short-term role for now, if the opportunity comes for something more long-term, I’d definitely be interested.
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