The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed Troy Cooley as the men’s elite national pace bowling lead coach. The Australian will oversee the development of fast bowlers across England’s senior men’s and pathway teams.
Cooley’s responsibilities include coaching pace bowlers in the England men’s side, as well as the England Lions and Young Lions squads. At 60 years old, Cooley returns to a role he previously held from 2003 to 2006, which included England’s Ashes victory at home in 2005. He also served as England’s pace bowling coach during the Ashes and Lions squads in Australia in 2021.
Before this appointment, Cooley spent 15 years with Cricket Australia’s National Performance Programme in Brisbane. He recently finished a stint as the fast-bowling coach at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, where he began his work in 2021. Additionally, Cooley was the bowling coach for the Indian women’s team during the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February 2023, and he played a similar role for the India men’s A team during their England tour in May-June 2025.
“I am proud of the foundation 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,” Cooley stated.
“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,” he added.
Cooley’s return to England’s setup comes as the side is currently in Sri Lanka for a white-ball series, preparing for the Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled from February 7 to March 8.
“Troy is one of the very best coaches in the world whose record over more than two decades speaks for itself. 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,” said Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket.
“This role will see him 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,” Key added.