Cricfrenzy: What is power hitting?
Julian Wood: Power hitting is a crucial part of modern-day batting, especially in the shorter formats like T20. In today’s game, most — if not all — teams need out-and-out power hitters in their line-up. Not every player has to be one, but teams must have individuals capable of clearing the ropes consistently.
CF: Can Bangladeshi players adapt to power hitting?
Wood: Bangladeshi players may not be as physically imposing as, say, the West Indians — who are naturally built for power. But that doesn’t mean they can’t develop it. They have great skill, good touch, and with proper guidance, can generate enough power. My job will be to educate them on how to use their bodies more effectively to create power. It’s not just about size — smaller players can also hit big sixes. It comes down to movement, rhythm, timing, and having those movements in sequence consistently. That’s how you generate power.
CF: What will your role be?
Wood: My role? As I mentioned earlier, it will be to support and enhance what the players already have. I haven’t spoken to Phil Simmons yet, but I plan to do so before we begin. From my perspective, there’s now a global strike rate standard in international cricket, and I believe Bangladesh is currently below that benchmark. So, my aim will be to help improve their strike rate. In addition, I want to bring an intimidation factor to the batting unit — particularly at the top and middle order — so that opposition teams feel pressure right from the start.
CF: What kind of changes do you want to bring?
Wood: I don’t think I’ll be changing much. My goal is to add to what the players already have. I don’t want to change them because they’re very skillful and have excellent hand-eye coordination. But I will definitely introduce aspects to their game that give them more scoring options.
CF: Is 21 days enough?
Wood: Obviously, 21 days is a decent amount of time, but like anything, it's a process. The more you work on it, the better you get. It’s a good lead-up to the Asia Cup, but ultimately, it’s about long-term development. Hopefully, we’ll start to see a difference, and if the players can carry that into the Asia Cup — and more importantly, the World Cup — that would be ideal. But again, it’s a process, and the players, coaches, and support staff all need to trust that process.
CF: Bangladeshi players don’t have that physical frame — what changes can help?
Wood: As I mentioned earlier, they may not have the physicality of the West Indians, but they do possess strong skill levels. They rely heavily on rhythm and the timing of their movements. While they might not naturally have that physical presence, it doesn’t mean they can’t develop it — with the right training, it’s absolutely possible.
CF: Can Bangladeshi players play like Pooran, Russell, or Maxwell?
Wood: I think it’s important to consider the specific roles players will play, particularly at the top of the order. You need to maximize the powerplay and, as I mentioned earlier, establish an intimidation factor right from the start. Then, in the middle order, you need players who can keep the scoreboard moving. Teams often get stuck in that phase. Even in T20 cricket, rotating the strike is crucial — but if you can hit a boundary and rotate strike effectively, say a boundary and five singles in an over, that’s nine runs per over, which is a good rate. Then you finish strong with your power hitters at the back end. So, it’s really about identifying players and understanding which roles suit them best.
CF: How do you want to see the players develop?
Wood: I want the players to realize that there’s an issue. The top three teams in the world — England, Australia, and India — are pulling ahead in T20 cricket, and a gap is clearly forming. As I mentioned earlier, there’s now a global standard for strike rates, and we need to reach that level. That’s part of the role I see for myself — helping bridge that gap. I want the players to understand that maintaining the status quo won’t be enough. They need to do something different if they want to keep up with the top sides.
CF: Can classical players also become power hitters?
Wood: Classical players operate a bit differently. Take someone like Shai Hope — I worked with him in the PSL. It didn’t quite work out for him there, but he has scored a 44-ball hundred in T20 cricket, so the ability is certainly there. Classical players tend to shift through the gears gradually — from gear one to two, three, four, and five. They need more time to build an innings. On the other hand, players like Glenn Maxwell can go from gear one straight to five almost instantly. The key is identifying which players can shift gears quickly and which ones are better suited to a more gradual build-up. It’s about finding the right mix and understanding each player’s strengths.
