Cooley will be responsible for coaching pace bowlers in the England men\u2019s side as well as the England Lions and Young Lions squads. Cooley, 60, returns to a role he previously held between 2003 and 2006, a period that included England\u2019s Ashes victory at home in 2005. He had been England\u2019s pace bowling coach in Australia for the Ashes and Lions squads in 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cooley also spent 15 years with Cricket Australia\u2019s National Performance Programme in Brisbane, before recently finishing a stint as the fast-bowling coach at the Board of Control for Cricket in India\u2019s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, where he began work in 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cooley also served as the bowling coach for the Indian women's team during the T20 World Cup held in South Africa in February 2023 and played a similar role for the India men's A team during their England tour in May-June 2025.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI 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\u2019s pace\u2011bowling future - bringing together the art of performance and the science of long\u2011term development.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEngland\u2019s pace\u2011bowling talent and identity are world\u2011class. My focus is to continue strengthening pathway alignment - technical standards, coaching language, performance expectations \u2013 by blending practical coaching with evidence\u2011based development so bowlers and coaches can progress with clarity and confidence,\" said Cooley.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His return to England\u2019s set-up comes at a time when the side is in Sri Lanka for a white-ball series, as part of their preparation for the Men\u2019s T20 World Cup happening from February 7 to March 8.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEngland\u2019s pace\u2011bowling talent and identity are world\u2011class. My focus is to continue strengthening pathway alignment - technical standards, coaching language, performance expectations \u2013 by blending practical coaching with evidence\u2011based development so bowlers and coaches can progress with clarity and confidence,\" said Cooley.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis role will see him work with pace bowlers and coaches at all levels of the men\u2019s professional game as we look to build a structure for sustainable success,\u201d said Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men\u2019s Cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n