Troy Cooley makes his return as England pace-bowling coach and is back with the ECB after a massive 20-year gap.
More than 20 years after he was instrumental in England recovering the Ashes, Troy Cooley has returned to the coaching staff.
The ECB has named Cooley, 60, the men’s elite national pace-bowling lead. When England won the 2005 Ashes, he was their bowling coach. The next year, he left to work in his home country of Australia.
In his new position, he will be in charge of the “development and coaching of fast bowlers” throughout the England men’s pathway, from the senior teams to the Lions and Young Lions.
“Troy is one of the very best coaches in the world whose record over more than two decades speaks for itself,” Rob Key, the ECB’s managing director of England men’s cricket, said.
“He has coached and developed the best pace bowlers in all conditions and his vast experience and knowledge will not only benefit the England Men’s team but also help to nurture the next wave of fast-bowling talent.
“This role will see him to work with pace bowlers and coaches at all levels of the men’s professional game as we look to build a structure for sustainable success.”
Since Jon Lewis departed to lead England Women in 2022, England has been without a specialist pace-bowling coach. They employed three different consultants for the position last year—James Anderson, Tim Southee, and David Saker—and it is believed that the decision to hire Cooley had been planned for some time.
Before joining the BCCI in 2021 as a fast-bowling coach with the national cricket academy, Cooley worked for 15 years with Cricket Australia’s national performance program following his original three-year stint with England.
Cooley said: “I am proud of the foundations built in recent years and grateful to the BCCI team, led by VVS Laxman, for their support. Joining the ECB is an exciting opportunity to help shape the next phase of England’s pace‑bowling future – bringing together the art of performance and the science of long‑term development.
“England’s pace‑bowling talent and identity are world‑class. My focus is to continue strengthening pathway alignment – technical standards, coaching language, performance expectations – by blending practical coaching with evidence‑based development so bowlers and coaches can progress with clarity and confidence.