IT IS a plot worthy of John le Carré. Troy Cooley, the fast-bowling coach who was instrumental in England’s Ashes triumph last summer, is going home to try to help Australia regain the cherished prize when battle is resumed next winter. He could be the coach who came in from the cold.

Cooley, a former Tasmania fast bowler who served his coaching apprenticeship under the legendary Dennis Lillee, will leave the ECB national academy, based at Loughborough University, when his contract expires in May, to take up a similar position with Cricket Australia in Brisbane.

Like Rodney Marsh, the former director of both the Australian and English academies, Cooley sees nothing incongruous about working for both sides. “We want cricket to survive,” he said when Marsh lured him to England in 2003, “and good Ashes battles keep interest alive.”

His words seemed almost prophetic last summer when his work with Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones came to glorious fruition and their Australian counterparts were left complaining that they did not have the same specialist assistance.

At the end of the series, a Cricket Australia review committee concluded that a fast-bowling coach was a priority and now they have paid England the highest compliment by pinching theirs, although Australia could argue that they are only reclaiming their own.

“Troy was our first choice,” James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive officer, said. “The players, from captain down, rate him highly and his work in England speaks for itself. We are delighted he has agreed to return home to take on this important role as we move ahead for the Ashes tour — already shaping as the biggest sporting event in Australia since the Sydney Olympics — and the World Cup in the West Indies in 2007.

“As important will be his work with the states helping to identify and develop talent for the future as we strive to ensure that cricket remains as Australia’s sport for the long-term future.”

It is effectively the same job that Cooley has been doing in England through his work with the counties and the age-group sides as well as the England team. David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, said: “He will be a hard act to follow.”

Cooley, 39, had a modest record as a fast bowler, taking only 54 wickets at 61 runs apiece in 33 first-class matches for his native Tasmania, but his coaching career flourished under the influence of Lillee and Marsh. He became Marsh’s assistant at the Australian academy in Adelaide and then followed him to England to set up the fast-bowling programme.

He has been praised widely for his work with Flintoff, Harmison and company, which last week won him a prestigious award for achievement in UK international sports coaching, but he is just as proud of the fast-bowling programme he has set up at the academy with the support of coaches from around the counties.

“I am most grateful to the ECB and to Duncan Fletcher for the opportunity to work in England,” he said. “I’ve made some good friends over here and I’ve enjoyed my time immensely but in the big picture I suppose I’m an Australian lad and an opportunity has presented itself that I want to take.”

“It is very disappointing to lose a person of Troy’s calibre,” Fletcher said. “He has brought an enormous amount to cricket in England and Wales, not just as a coach but also as a key member of the England set-up.

“We have worked hard to build what I thought was the ideal management team so to lose a pivotal figure in that is a great shame.”

REALIST WITH A GOLDEN TOUCH

What they said about Troy Cooley

“England’s bowling has been rubbish. They’re using Troy Cooley, an Australian. How many Test wickets did he take? I’ve looked in Wisden and I can’t find his name anywhere.”
— Geoffrey Boycott in 2003

“Great players don’t necessarily make great coaches. I never saw Troy Cooley bowl, but I know he is a fine bowling coach.”
— Duncan Fletcher defends Cooley from Boycott

“Dennis (Lillee) is probably the best fast-bowling coach in the world and Troy Cooley is the second best.”
— Rod Marsh, the former Australia wicketkeeper and England academy director

“Troy Cooley has been my apprentice and knows more than me now. He’s fantastic.”
— Dennis Lillee

“England set some benchmarks there which we can hopefully improve on and one of those is support staff.”
— John Buchanan, the Australia coach, after the Ashes series

“He asks the right questions. He knows how to motivate us.”
— Matthew Hoggard

“We’re really close. If I’ve had a rough day, I’ll have a chat with Troy, we’ll work on things the next day and do work well together.”
— Simon Jones

“He has a good knowledge of bio-mechanics and the body and he is also realistic. He never asks you to do something he knows you can’t do.”
— Simon Jones

“We’re seeing the fruits of his labour with the English bowling. The only thing I mentioned to him when I saw him in England was that I didn’t think red, white and blue suited him. He’s enjoying the role and he’s obviously contributing to English cricket.”
— David Boon, the former Australia batsman.