Troy Cooley was credited as playing a key role in the 2005 Ashes and he could do so again - this time for Australia.
 Bracken and Johnson have improved under Cooley (centre) |
As England's bowling coach, Cooley was instrumental in producing a battery of four fast bowlers who took 75 wickets in the famous 2-1 victory. Australia saw their ageing pace attack struggle with injury and loss of form, claiming just 51 English victims at an average of almost 32 runs each.
However, Cooley's return to his native Australia in May has sparked an upturn in the form of fringe players and increasing confidence in the more established stars.
Simon Jones, Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff converted potential into achievement under Cooley's guidance.
Now Shane Watson, Nathan Bracken and Mitchell Johnson are following suit.
Left-armer Bracken, who struggled during his first spell in the Test side, allied control of swing and an impressive slower ball to take 10 wickets in the recent Champions Trophy in India.
 | He is one of the big reasons why my bowling has come on so well |
Watson, dismissed as a medium-pacer who was scared of the dark on last year's Ashes tour, was hostile in taking three England top-order wickets in Jaipur last month. Johnson, who had lost his way after being described as a "once in a generation" player by Dennis Lillee eight years ago, numbered Kevin Pietersen among his three victims in the one-day game.
Asked by BBC Sport about Cooley's impact, Watson said: "Over the last six months I've had a lot to do with him in Brisbane at the cricket academy.
"He is one of the big reasons why my bowling has come on so well."
Cooley's remit is not just in bringing through the next generation, though, as he played a part in planning Glenn McGrath's successful return after a break to be with his ill wife.
The coach himself is matter of fact about his influence.
"With guys like Mitchell and Shane we profiled the strengths and weaknesses of their games just after I arrived," he told the Guardian newspaper last month.
"Then it was a matter of getting their fitness and workload levels up, and focusing on working on their strengths."
| If you listen to the way the guys talk about him, he's had an impact already |
A former fast bowler who played a handful of games for Tasmania, Cooley is famous for his love of technology to help with technical analysis but his approach certainly does not stop there. "Troy was like a big brother to me, rather than a coach," said Steve Harmison this week.
"From the first day I met him we just sort of clicked - me and Simon and Andrew Flintoff. He's somebody that we were obviously disappointed to lose."
Head coach Duncan Fletcher was reportedly "apoplectic" - not at Cooley but at the England and Wales Cricket Board - when his lieutenant announced his move home.
Cooley does not seem to have haggled particularly but the ECB failed to offer him a long enough contract when it came up for renegotiation.
 Cooley is known for his love of technology and analysis |
England's inability to hold onto a prize asset could become obvious if his replacement Kevin Shine is not able to fill the void. It said much of the influence Cooley has already had on the Australia side that they were annoyed he was unable to stay with the side throughout their successful Champions Trophy campaign.
Aussie captain Ricky Ponting has known Cooley since childhood as they played club cricket together in their home town Launceston.
"He's got a heart of gold. He will do absolutely everything he can to do his best for anybody," he said.
"If you listen to the way the guys talk about him, he's had an impact already.
"I know all the guys are really looking forward to spending more time with him through the summer and they'll all benefit from it, no doubt."
England know just how much of an impact Cooley can have, which will be reason to worry over the next few months.
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News conference: Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson
