County ace turns to Cooley for aid
4:10pm Monday 12th May 2008
FORMER England fast bowling coach Troy Cooley returned to Australia after masterminding England's epic 2005 Ashes triumph but has never lost touch with some of his former charges.
So when Worcestershire new boy Simon Jones recently sent video footage of himself to Cooley to inspect his action, Cricket Australia's national bowling coach was only too pleased to offer his advice.
Cooley has urged Jones to invoke the mesmeric powers of reverse swing to give himself the best chance of regaining his England place after three years of grievous injury problems.
The former Glamorgan paceman took 18 wickets in four Tests against the touring Australians by remodeling his action and adopting Cooley's mantra "It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got reverse swing."
"There's no secret to swing bowling," Cooley said.
"You've got to have ball condition, seam position and speed.
"If you've got those three things and you practice it and know when it's coming, you can take advantage of it.
"You don't need to have a round-arm action, you just have to make sure that when the seam comes out it's in the right position.
"If you don't have the ball in the right condition, don't have the seam in the right condition, and don't have the right speeds you're not going to get it.
"It's basically up to the player to practice that delivery and be able to produce it."
The 41-year-old Cooley prematurely retired from first-class cricket for Tasmania in 1994 after suffering two serious back injuries.
He first met Jones, alongside England hopefuls Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison, during a visit to the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide seven years ago - the summer before Jones took four wickets on his England Test debut against India at Lord's.
"Simon and the other guys were very talented bowlers who enjoyed each other's company and worked very hard," Cooley said. "They still do.
"People think that reverse swing is a complicated thing but in fact it's pretty simple.
"Simon has got a very fast arm action."
Cooley added: "I have kept in touch with England's progress and not just for professional reasons."