Cooley makes call on coaching role

Australia bowling coach Troy Cooley will help plot England's downfall this Ashes series but says he doesn’t want the assistant role on a full-time basis.

In the wake of David Saker's decision to stand down as Australia's all-format bowling coach, Cooley was announced as the Victorian's replacement for the Ashes, while Tasmania coach Adam Griffith will handle World Cup duties.

Cooley has served as a bowling coach for England and Australia and was the interim head coach of Australia in the dramatic two-Test series in South Africa in 2011, which saw his side rolled for 47 in Cape Town before the incredible debut of a teenage Pat Cummins in the following match.

His experience will be vital for Justin Langer's side this northern summer, but beyond the Ashes, Cooley says the demands and time spent away from home as Australia's bowling coach will likely see him continue his permanent role as head coach at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, where he oversees the development of the nation's brightest youngsters and aspiring coaches.

"I did that job for 10 or so years … it's something you never take for granted," Cooley said in Dubai where he was working as the bowling coach for the ODI side.

"It's something that I love, that's why I've been in the (NCC) head coach role for a while now but it's pretty easy to slip back into the pace role.

"It's one of the best jobs going around.

"You could not pass up an opportunity like this.

"But I would probably be more inclined to continue the (NCC) head coaching role."

Cooley was the mastermind behind England's unforgettable Ashes triumph on home soil in 2005, when the hosts won 2-1 to upset the all-conquering Australian side led by Ricky Ponting.

Reverse swing played a significant role in that series but Cooley says the improvement in English venues might curtail its presence this winter.

"It really depends on Mother Nature," Cooley said.

"We'll exploit that if we get an opportunity to, depending on the conditions.

"But a lot of English grounds now have got irrigation and been redone, so you don't have those real dry outfields like in '05."

Cooley will be part of the Australia A tour that precedes the Ashes and will work on helping his fast bowlers make the appropriate adjustments to be successful in English conditions.

But perhaps more importantly, Cooley and Langer will be determined to have the bowling attack hunt as a pack as they aim to win their first Ashes series in England since 2001.

"We know where we need to bowl, we'll be practicing that as much as we can to make sure we're (right) to hit those lengths," he said.

"The fast bowlers and the spinners have got to work as a team and I know 'JL' (Langer) is really keen to make sure that pack mentality is tight and they're covering all bases.

"So if we rock up and get a green seamer or a dry one we've got enough skillset and enough coverage to be able to take 20 wickets."

Having been involved in a number of Ashes campaigns, both home and abroad and for both sides, the magnitude of the series is not lost on Cooley.

"It's a fantastic tournament," he said. "It's one that stops a couple of nations and not only that, from the '05 series it stopped a lot of other cricketing nations too.

"It has a massive impact on people and getting cricket on the front pages and also inspiring the next generation coming though.

"Ashes, it gets me out of bed in the morning."