Julian Wood introduces new power-hitting equipment in Bangladesh

BANGLADESH CRICKET

Julian Wood introduces new power-hitting equipment in Bangladesh

by Atif Azam • Last updated on

It is understood that the ProVelocity Bat develops hand-eye coordination while also helping with proper sequencing and teaching compact mechanics. © BCB

Since Bangladesh Cricket Board's newly appointed power-hitting coach Julian Wood arrived to help men's and women's cricketers develop their power-hitting skills, a picture has been circulating where a batter is seen working with what, to the naked eye, looks like nothing more than a heavy rod.

In a video provided by the BCB recently, Bangladesh T20I skipper Litton Das was asked by Wood to play shadow shots ranging from drives to square cuts to pulls with that rod, known as the ProVelocity Bat.

"The idea is new as far as using the ProVelocity Bat is concerned and certainly we are enjoying the session with him (Wood)," a batter told Cricbuzz, as they look to improve their power-hitting skills by using it.

It is understood that the ProVelocity Bat develops hand-eye coordination while also helping with proper sequencing and teaching compact mechanics.

The sliding barrel has eight resistance bands that resist its motion, and the more bands someone adds, the harder it becomes to slide the barrel to the end of the bat.

If batters try to increase their bat speed, they have to keep increasing the time between clicks, as that indicates they achieved high bat speed early in their swing and maintained it throughout.

All the batters are keen to hear the double click, as getting it means they had proper swing mechanics and high enough bat speed to overcome the resistance and get the barrel to slide all the way to the end of the bat.

"If the batters don't have high bat speed or have flaws in their mechanics, they won't be able to generate enough power to get the barrel to slide all the way down the shaft and as a result will only get a single click," Bangladesh women's team batting coach Nasiruddin Faruque, who had observed Wood closely during his classes with the coaches as well as when he demonstrated the drill, told Cricbuzz on Sunday.

"I think it's a good method. The concept is the same, but fundamentally, we haven't done this before - we've been throwing it down, hitting with a drop shot, or hitting on a machine," he said. "I don't know what others think, but this is new - an innovative idea. The thing itself is the same; it's like Greek salad versus Bengali salad. As you enjoy it, gradually your swing will improve. This technique is very useful for those who want to master death overs."

Faruque insisted that he is not sure whether it will work at the top of the order, considering how effective it will be against swinging deliveries remains to be seen.

"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," he said.

"I gave the example of Indian bowlers - they just lift the ball within the wrist's range. But if you go to bouncy tracks, your baseball-style horizontal bat swing comes into play. I was asking this question, and he agreed," he said.

© Cricbuzz

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