I see myself as pretty unique: Steffan Jones, the man to revolutionise Rajasthan Royals' fast bowling

Looking to get a jump on their rivals and give their bowling attack a little bit extra, the Rajasthan Royals have hired Steffan Jones as their bowling coach. TOM EDWARDS spoke to the former Somerset seamer about what he can bring to the franchise...

The new season of the Indian Premier League is fast approaching, and preparation is well underway, with coaches looking to get their charges up and running.

There has been a great deal of change at Rajasthan Royals who have appointed Paddy Upton as their new head coach. Beyond just Upton however, they have something of a secret weapon - Steffan Jones.

The ex-Somerset seam bowler was appointed back in November to specifically coach the Royals fast bowling attack, which includes the likes of Jaydev Unadkat, Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes.

Beyond just coaching the physical aspects of bowling quickly, Jones also provides training for the mental side of the game.

"I see myself as pretty unique in terms of a fast bowling coach because I can cover everything. It’s called the governing dynamics of coaching when you have the knowledge on every aspect – technical, physical, tactical and mental," explained Jones.

"My role is all-encompassing. I make sure the bowlers are prepared before the game, I recover them after the game, I help plan their tactical approach during the game."

^{Jofra Archer in action for Hobart Hurricanes}

To become a unique coach means picking up skills that other coaches do not have, and to achieve that means taking the less-trodden path, and experience which Jones is confident sets himself apart from other coaches.

"It has been a long road. I’m not from the establishment as it were – the ECB. I came out of that to learn more about coaching," he remarked.

"I travel the world coaching bowlers, so I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about fast bowling and myself than anyone else really. But I knew it would come because when you keep getting results, and data doesn’t lie in terms of the added value you give to your fast bowlers, then opportunities will arise."

That data he refers to is an essential part of his approach to coaching. Rather than just using the naked eye, Jones prefers to incorporate data into his coaching rather than just using the naked eye.

"At the end of the day opinions are just words, and everyone is entitled to them, everyone has a right. But when you have data, when you have facts based on sports science it doesn't lie," he commented.

Jaydev Unadkat alongside Virat Kohli

"It's up to the coach to utilize the data and apply it to particular situations and a particular bowler. That’s where the art of coaching comes in. It’s not a case of just looking at numbers and just letting the numbers guide you, the numbers are there to provide you with a framework and direction to where you want to go.

"I am very sports science driven because I deal in facts, I want to know how to get this bowler bowling faster. Okay, if I do A, B, and C it does it. I want to know how I can make sure the bowling I am coaching nails his Yorkers at the death. With implicit learning you can do that – the subconscious mind grooms the bowling pattern and it will happen."

The question is begged though, if these experiences that he has accrued over the years have made him unique to other coaches, how does that manifest itself in his coaching?

"I can’t give too much away, but I use a thing called tactical periodization. Football is using it – Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Eddie Jones uses for England Rugby. It’s just training the bowlers to cope with certain moments of the game, phases of the game that happen consistently based on data," he said.

"In a T20 game or 50-over match, they happen, they’re key phases, it’s about preparing the fast bowler to be able to perform under pressure with lots of variability at the key moments of the game. It’s about breaking it down into segments, and really hammering home the training in those segments. You join them up together, and then individuality can flourish – flair can flourish."

One particular player Jones will be keen to focus on is England hopeful and potential World Cup selection Jofra Archer, who was the Royals leading wicket-taker during the 2018 IPL.

England's Ben Stokes

"I can help Jofra and I’m going to help him. I’ve got some ideas that will help him. I will suggest to him what I think he should be doing, based on data, based on my bowling profile, based on testing everything from the ability to absorb force on his back foot contact, from his run-in speed, bowling velocity, arm speed.

"I can sit down with him and go 'this is the data, these are the stats, these are your numbers – we improve that number, you will bowl faster'. Based on research that I have done with over 200 bowlers around the world. You improve that number – and I won't tell anyone what that number is – they will bowl faster.

"They will increase their pace, and then it takes less effort to bowl at their 'cruising pace' as I call it. Their cruising pace is their effort ball last year, and that’s what people forget. It’s not about bowling 100 mph, it’s about actually having the capacity to use less energy to bowl the same pace as they are now, but with the ability to bowl that 95-100 mph delivery.

"Embracing sports science, embracing individuality, and embracing the limiting factor in each bowler is key because every bowler is different. Some bowlers might need to bowl all day to transfer the motor learning and repetition, while others might need to do more gym work. There’s no one size fits all for any fast bowler in the world."

With the IPL under a month away now, the Royals will be more than happy if he has been able to crank up the pace of the already speedy Archer. A speedier Archer is likely to take more wickets, and if he can take more wickets, then they will be in a better position to win the IPL.