David Hemp, the newly appointed head coach of the Bangladesh women’s cricket team, has called for a fearless and positive approach as the squad prepares for its first-ever bilateral series on Australian soil. The 55-year-old mentor, who has signed on for a two-year tenure, will lead his side into a three-match ODI series against Australia, with the opening fixture scheduled for October 9 at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. According to but expectations from me around how we play is just more around being positive within the game,” Hemp, Ahead of the series opener on Thursday. So the biggest challenge will be getting our heads around that. I mean, I know the players, players are working really well, settled in really well and had some really good discussions on how we want to play the game.
Addressing the daunting task of facing the world’s top-ranked side, Hemp acknowledged the clear disparity in stature. He noted, “We can’t hide away from the fact that we’re playing against the best women’s team in the world. They’re number one in ODIs and also in T20s.” Despite the challenge posed by Australia’s high-caliber individual talent, Hemp’s focus remains strictly on the internal development of his squad’s mentality. He urged the players to maintain positivity in their thinking and execution, aiming to ensure they depart Australia without lingering regrets about their style of play.
Hemp brings a level of continuity to the role, having previously served as the batting coach during recent campaigns, including the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier in Pakistan and the T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal. Reflecting on his transition, he mentioned, “I’m new to the setup, but I’ve also had experience with the team before. That transition has been for me a bit easier because I’ve been here before with the group.” This familiarity has allowed him to settle in quickly and engage in meaningful dialogues with players about the team’s strategic direction.
A primary objective for the training block has been adapting to the unique surfaces in Australia, which offer significantly more pace and bounce than what the Bangladesh team typically experiences at home. Hemp described the practice conditions as excellent, noting that the squad has benefited from a practice game and several intense training sessions over the past five days. While the foreign conditions present a natural hurdle, the coach expressed satisfaction with the team’s ability to adjust and learn. And what we don’t want is to get back to Bangladesh in a week’s time and say, ‘Oh, I wish we’d played this way, I wish we’d played that way’.
Ultimately, Hemp views this series as a crucial development opportunity. He emphasized that regardless of the results against the world champions, the team must prioritize their own progress and confidence. “As long as we’re doing that, then we’ll move forward in a positive way,” he concluded, signaling a long-term vision for the team under his guidance.
