Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed Julian Wood as the new batting coach and Rene Ferdinands as the spin-bowling coach of the men’s national team. They replace Thilina Kandamby and Piyal Wijetunge in the respective roles.
Kandamby had been serving as Sri Lanka’s batting coach since December 2023, while Wijetunge had been a long-term member of the coaching setup, holding the spin-bowling coach position since February 2006. The coaching reshuffle reportedly follows Sri Lanka’s T20I series defeat to Bangladesh at home in July.
Wood has signed a one-year contract with SLC. Earlier this year, he conducted a week-long power-hitting programme with national players that impressed the board. In August, he worked as Bangladesh’s batting coach on a short-term deal, which was not extended after September. Wood has also been associated with the ECB, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Middlesex, and IPL franchise Punjab Kings.
Ferdinands has been handed a two-year contract and will oversee spin bowling training, match preparation, performance analysis, and player development. Holding a PhD in biomechanics from the University of Waikato, he brings a scientific approach to cricket coaching. He has previously worked with the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy and New Zealand Cricket, focusing on biomechanics-based coaching and injury-risk assessments for elite players.
Over the past decade, Sri Lanka’s batting has struggled with low scoring rates and limited power-hitting, while their spinners have faced challenges on flat pitches. SLC hopes the appointments of Wood and Ferdinands will help address these long-standing issues and strengthen the team’s overall performance.