Win Projections to be updated soon
Rawalpindi, 17 November 2025:
Sri Lanka batting coach Julian Wood said the team’s 3-0 ODI series defeat to Pakistan offered “hard lessons but valuable information” as they look ahead to long-term goals, including preparation for the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
Speaking after the third ODI in Rawalpindi, Wood acknowledged the disappointment of the result but said the tour had given clarity on areas that need immediate improvement.
“We’ve come off seven weeks of training while Pakistan have been playing a lot of cricket recently,” Wood said. “Even then, we put up 291 and 288 in the first two games when we should have reached 320 or 340. The batting excites me, even though today didn’t go to plan.”
Wood said Sri Lanka’s top order repeatedly got starts but failed to convert, calling it the series’ most frustrating pattern. “Every game, the top four or five got in and then got out. We had good powerplays, then made poor decisions. It’s something we must address.”
Despite the sweep, Wood insisted there were meaningful positives. He praised debutant Panav, who impressed in the final ODI, and highlighted encouraging spells from Jeffrey Vandersay and other bowlers. “When you start putting pieces together for the future, it’s exciting,” he said. “But the repeated mistakes — especially losing wickets after the powerplay — have to stop.”
Wood also lauded Pakistan’s crowd support and the hospitality the team received. “It’s fantastic here. I’ve been to Pakistan several times and I love the passion for the game. The support for Sri Lanka, both in the stadium and back home, was brilliant.”
Asked whether the losses came down to Pakistan’s bowling or Sri Lanka’s own errors, Wood said it was a combination. “Pakistan have bowlers like Haris Rauf who can come in and take two wickets in two balls. We need to learn how to absorb that pressure and decide when to counterattack.”
He conceded the whitewash added to a string of similar results in recent months, but emphasized that the team is building the foundation of a long-term plan. “Yes, it’s disappointing,” he said. “But if you’re planning for 2027, that process started with this series. We’re gathering information and moving forward.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming T20 tri-nation series, Wood said the squad will reset quickly. “Different format, new players coming in — it freshens things up. We’ll take a day off, train again, and hopefully start with a win.”
