Exclusive: Julian Wood Aims to Sharpen Bangladesh’s White-Ball Bite Through Role Clarity

Bangladesh’s newly appointed power-hitting coach Julian Wood says his top priority is ensuring every player understands their role in white-ball cricket, something he considers essential to success in the shorter formats.

Wood, who will be with the team for a three-week stint, is currently in Dhaka working across multiple setups, from national women’s cricketers to age-group squads. 

He is scheduled to begin sessions with the Bangladesh men’s team on August 15 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, as they kick off a skills camp ahead of the Asia Cup.

The English coach is no stranger to Bangladesh cricket, having previously worked with the Chattogram Challengers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the country’s premier franchise T20 competition.

EDUCATING COACHES AND CRICKETERS

Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom, Wood expressed his delight at returning to Bangladesh and explained his vision for the assignment.

“I think the key for me is there’s a lot of talent here, there always has been,” Wood told SportsBoom.com. 

“In white-ball cricket, striking the ball is a major part of the game now. I’ll be giving them information on how to generate and use their power more efficiently.”

Wood stressed that Bangladesh, like several other cricketing nations, risks falling behind if they don’t adapt quickly.

“If you look at how the game is going now, big nations like Australia, India, and England are pulling ahead in white-ball cricket. Other nations are starting to lag a bit, and I think they realise they need to do something about it.”

His work, he added, will not be limited to players alone. 

“It will be good for the coaches as well, to educate people and get everyone on the same page.”

INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OVER ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL

For Wood, understanding that no two players are the same is central to effective coaching.

“Everybody is different. In white-ball cricket, every player has a role and needs to know what they are good at,” he explained. 

“The process will be about working with the squad, giving them what they need both individually and as a group.”

Factors such as body type, movement style, and batting strengths play a key role in tailoring training. 

“Everybody moves differently and is of different size, so it’s about making the most out of them and giving them more information to succeed.”

PLAYING TO STRENGTHS, NOT COPYING OTHERS

Modern power-hitting often begins with the idea of a solid base, but Wood cautions against blindly imitating methods used by players from other regions.

“The base is huge. They talk about a solid base, but Bangladeshi players aren’t naturally big like West Indies players,” he said. 

“What happens sometimes is they see how bigger players bat and try to copy them.”

That, he warned, is not always effective. 

“The big guys can stand still and hit it. Smaller guys rely heavily on rhythm and timing of their movement. Some players here have the ability to be out-and-out power hitters, while others will succeed more through rhythm and timing.”

The real challenge, Wood said, is identifying the right approach for each player. 

“The key will be working with each one individually to get the best out of them and help them understand how to achieve what they can achieve.”

Wood’s focus during his short-term assignment will be on equipping Bangladesh’s players, and coaches, with the tools to bridge the gap between them and the top white-ball teams in the world. 

By emphasising role clarity, individualised training, and playing to natural strengths, he hopes to help the Tigers find their edge in a format increasingly defined by power-hitting precision.