ENGLAND HIRE BOWLING GURU COOLEY
ENGLAND have turned to the architect of the bowling plans that helped win the iconic 2005 Ashes by appointing Troy Cooley as a consultant for this year’s series. The Australian, Duncan Fletcher’s trusted lieutenant in one of the greatest of all Ashes triumphs, will work with England fast bowling coach Jon Lewis as the away side look to pull off an unlikely victory. Cooley, 55, joined England for their match against the England Lions in Brisbane, where the second day was rained off yesterday, and will be with them until the first Test at the Gabba on December 8.
He will then work with the Lions in their game against Australia A. Cooley is widely credited with the success of the 2005 attack of Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff. He left England the following year to work with Australia and is soon to join up with India as a consultant. Meanwhile, the disgraced Tim Paine has received support from within the Australia team, with Marcus Harris saying the players still want him to play in the first Test. Paine was sacked as Australia captain last week when it emerged he had sent sexually explicit texts and a picture to a fellow Cricket Tasmania employee. But he remains in the 15-man squad for the first of five Tests. ‘People were obviously a bit shocked,’ said opener Harris. ‘But I know he’s got the support of all the players and I think you’d argue he’s still our best gloveman. That sort of stuff is up to people above me now.’