Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has made a bold move by recruiting two foreign experts, Julian Wood and Rene Ferdinands, to sharpen the national men’s team ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, marking a shift away from its recent all-local coaching strategy.
After a string of inconsistent results in T20 internationals, SLC has decided that international expertise is needed to refine skills, boost power-hitting, and close tactical gaps. The decision follows Sri Lanka’s 2-1 T20 series loss to Bangladesh in July, a reminder that despite strong Test and ODI performances under Sanath Jayasuriya’s all-local coaching unit, the shorter format still requires urgent attention.
Julian Wood, a former English first-class cricketer and world-renowned power-hitting coach, has signed a one-year deal beginning October 1, 2025. Known for introducing baseball-inspired techniques into cricket, Wood has worked with teams like Middlesex, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, and even the ECB. His cricket-specific power-hitting drills, training aids, and innovative programmes are credited with transforming the batting approach of several international players. Wood will now oversee batting development across all Sri Lankan national squads.
Rene Ferdinands, a biomechanics specialist from New Zealand currently based in Australia, will take on a two-year contract starting September 30, 2025. With expertise spanning batting mechanics, fast bowling, spin bowling, and fielding, Ferdinands will provide in-depth technical analysis, performance development, and match preparation strategies for the men’s team.
Together, the two bring a wealth of global experience designed to elevate Sri Lanka’s T20 performance to world standards. While a new fielding coach has yet to be appointed, Upul Chandana’s guidance has already led to noticeable improvements in this area.
By investing in foreign expertise, Sri Lanka signals its intent to prepare aggressively for the T20 World Cup, aiming to compete head-to-head with the best teams in international cricket.
