Desperate to reverse their dwindling T20 fortunes, Sri Lanka have turned to English power-hitting specialist Julian Wood to inject much-needed muscle into their batting line-up ahead of the Asia Cup. With concerns mounting over a lack of firepower, Wood’s appointment signals a strategic shift by the former world champions.
Currently languishing at No. 7 in the ICC T20I rankings — their lowest standing across formats — Sri Lanka’s recent series loss to Bangladesh at home has raised serious red flags. Batting collapses and lacklustre strike rates highlighted the urgent need for a fresh approach.
Mind Over Muscle: Wood’s Philosophy
Julian Wood, a former Hampshire batter turned globally recognised "power doctor", believes the key lies as much in mindset as mechanics.
“I’m not reinventing the wheel,” “I’m giving them structure and understanding. A lot of them have good technique and hand-eye coordination. My job is to build on that — turn clean hits into sixes, even mis-hits into maximums.”
Wood, who has previously worked with IPL franchises and international teams, emphasises the psychological edge.
When a batter walks out thinking he can clear any boundary, that’s when he becomes dangerous. It’s about giving them options and getting that strike rate ticking.
A Broader Boost: Women’s Team Also Benefit
Wood’s expertise wasn’t limited to the men’s squad. The women’s team also underwent sessions during his Colombo visit, as Sri Lanka aim to raise their white-ball standards across the board.
Support From the Top
Head coach Sanath Jayasuriya praised the decision to bring in a specialist coach, even for a short stint.
We’ve had a few experienced coaches come in for these short stints and the results have been encouraging. I’m confident we’ll reap the rewards of this camp as well.
Road to the Asia Cup
Sri Lanka’s next challenge will be a domestic triangular series featuring top T20 probables — a final audition of sorts ahead of the Asia Cup. A limited-overs tour to Zimbabwe is also scheduled later this month, providing further opportunities to test their revamped batting blueprint.
