Julian Wood Introduces Innovative Power-Hitting Equipment in Bangladesh

Julian Wood, the newly appointed power-hitting coach of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), has introduced an innovative training tool — the ProVelocity Bat — aimed at enhancing the power-hitting abilities of both men's and women's cricketers in Bangladesh.

Since Wood's arrival, a video released by the BCB has drawn attention, showing Bangladesh T20I captain Litton Das practicing shadow shots — including drives, square cuts, and pulls — using what appears to be a heavy rod. This rod is in fact the ProVelocity Bat, a cutting-edge piece of training equipment designed to develop hand-eye coordination, sequencing, and compact batting mechanics.

What is the ProVelocity Bat?

The ProVelocity Bat features a sliding barrel with eight resistance bands. These bands increase the difficulty of sliding the barrel down the bat, simulating the resistance a batter would feel during an actual power shot. Batters are trained to achieve a "double click" sound — an indicator that the barrel has completed its path, signifying proper swing mechanics and sustained bat speed.

"If batters don't have high bat speed or show flaws in their mechanics, they won't generate enough power for the barrel to reach the end — resulting in only a single click," explained Nasiruddin Faruque, the batting coach of the Bangladesh women's team. Faruque has been closely observing Wood’s sessions with both coaches and players.

An Innovative but Culturally New Approach

While the concept of resistance-based training is not new globally, it is a first for Bangladesh cricket. “The idea is new as far as using the ProVelocity Bat is concerned, and certainly, we are enjoying the sessions with him (Wood),” a participating batter told Cricbuzz.

Faruque likened the change in training style to switching cuisines: "It’s like Greek salad versus Bengali salad. As you enjoy it, gradually your swing improves."

He noted the bat is especially useful for death-over hitting, where precision and power are essential. However, Faruque expressed some skepticism about its applicability at the top of the order, particularly against swinging deliveries. He emphasized that in subcontinental conditions, where wrist work and timing play a more significant role, players traditionally rely on "golf-style" hitting rather than the "baseball-style" horizontal bat swings seen on bouncier tracks.

"I was asking Wood about this — we in the subcontinent prefer golf hitting more than baseball hitting. On the pitches we play in Mirpur, wrist work is crucial,” Faruque said. “But on bouncier pitches, the baseball-style swing becomes more relevant — and he agreed.”

A Promising Start

The introduction of the ProVelocity Bat marks a bold step in Bangladesh’s approach to modern batting training. With players and coaches showing enthusiasm and curiosity, it remains to be seen how this innovation will translate to on-field performance — especially in high-pressure T20 scenarios where power-hitting often makes the difference.

As Bangladesh continues its quest to become a more formidable force in limited-overs cricket, tools like the ProVelocity Bat could play a crucial role in bridging the gap between promise and performance.