The Coaching Crew

Our Team

NFBA wouldn’t be what it is without our increadible coaching team.

Our Incredible Coaches

At the heart of the National Fast Bowling Academy is a team of dedicated experts passionate about fast bowling development. Our coaches bring years of professional playing and coaching experience, combining elite technical knowledge with a commitment to nurturing the next generation of fast bowlers. Together, they deliver personalised coaching that transforms potential into performance — wherever you are.

Our world-class coaching staff comprises of some of the most renowned and experienced fast bowling coaches who have dedicated their coaching lives to developing the next generation of fast bowlers.

— Ian Pont, Head Coach

World-class

Coaching Staff

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Ian Pont

Head Coach & Founder
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  • Creator of ABSAT Fast Bowling Methodology
  • Three-Time ICC World Cup Coach

Catherine Dalton

Assistant Head Coach
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  • First female fast bowling coach in elite men’s cricket
  • Record-holder for highest-ever ECB Women’s Premier League score (211)

Andre Nel

Specialist Coach
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  • Former South African international fast bowler (231 wickets)
  • Test-best bowling figures of 6-32

Luke Humphrey

Specialist Coach
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  • ECB Level 4 Master Coach & ABSAT Master Coach
  • Former Lead Coach for England Talent Tests

Jack Ormsby

Specialist Coach
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  • ABSAT Master Coach (M.Ab) and ECB Level 2 Coach
  • ECB Premier League & Minor Counties cricketer

Jason Fergus

Sprint Coach
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  • World Junior Games 4x100m gold medallist (Great Britain)
  • Speed development expert for Sport England & England Athletics

Joe Reed

S&C Head Coach
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  • Worked with Olympic medallists from three countries
  • MSc in Strength & Conditioning Science (Distinction)

Jordan Edwards

S&C Coach
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  • First-class honours in Sports Rehabilitation & Strength & Conditioning
  • Specialist in junior athletic development for elite athletes

Nathan Wood

Sports Psychology and Mindset Coach
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  • Founder of Cricket Mind Online
  • Former Professional Cricketer for Lancashire & Young England
  • Diploma in Advanced Coaching

BRAD OAKES

Pathway Coach
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  • ECB Level 3 Coach (Level 4 in Progress)
  • Boys & Girls Pathway Coach – Essex County
  • 10+ Years High-Performance Coaching

Our world-class coaching staff comprises of some of the most renowned and experienced fast bowling coaches.

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    head coach & Founder

    Ian Pont

    Founder of the National Fast Bowling Academy and affectionately known as “The Face of Pace” and the “Grandfather of Speed,” Ian Pont is a true legend of fast bowling coaching. An ex-first-class cricketer in England (Notts & Essex) and South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), Ian’s athletic prowess extends beyond cricket — he had tryouts as a pitcher with six Major League Baseball teams and is an Olympic-qualifying javelin thrower. He holds the second-longest recorded cricket ball throw of all time (126.18m).

    Ian is the creator of the revolutionary ABSAT fast bowling methodology and has coached at the highest level internationally, including three ICC World Cups. His coaching credits include legends like Dale Steyn, Shoaib Akhtar, Deepak Chahar, and Naveen Ul Haq, along with numerous IPL, Test, and ODI players. A triple author of “The Fast Bowler’s Bible,” “Coaching Youth Cricket,” and “Ultimate Pace Secrets,” Ian is an ECB Level 3 Head Coach and former bowling coach for Essex and Northants. Ian is also a former national bowling coach for Bangladesh and the Netherlands.

    Assistant Head Coach

    Catherine Dalton

    Catherine Dalton is a trailblazer in fast bowling coaching — the first female fast bowling coach in elite men’s cricket. Currently the bowling coach for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Seasons 9 & 10, Catherine brings a wealth of experience as a former England Academy all-rounder and Ireland international, having competed in the ICC T20 World Cup in India 2016.

    Her playing achievements are historic: the first woman to score 100 in men’s Two Counties League, and the record-holder for the highest-ever individual score (211*) in the ECB Women’s Premier League. Catherine is an ABSAT Master Coach and ECB Level 3 Advanced Coach, with extensive coaching experience across the UK, India, and Pakistan. She also works as a Talksport Radio summariser on international men’s ODI and T20 matches.

    Specialist Coach

    Andre Nel

    Andre Nel is a former South African international fast bowler renowned for his fierce pace and aggression. With over 100 caps for South Africa and a Test-best bowling figure of 6-32, Andre took 231 wickets across a 7-year international career. He has bowled at speeds exceeding 96 mph and played in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, alongside multiple stints in County cricket (Northants, Essex, Surrey).

    Now an ECB Level 4 Master Coach, Andre’s experience and intensity make him a powerful asset for the NFBA coaching team.

    Specialist Coach

    Luke Humphrey

    Luke Humphrey is an ABSAT Master Coach and ECB Level 4 Master Coach, as well as an ECB Tutor, Assessor, and NLP Practitioner. He has worked closely with the England Lions and served as Lead Coach for England Talent Tests at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough.

    Luke’s expertise blends technical mastery with player development psychology, providing NFBA athletes with elite-level coaching and mentoring.

    Specialist Coach

    Jack Ormsby

    Jack Ormsby combines playing experience and coaching expertise. He competes in ECB Premier League cricket and has represented Cambridgeshire in Minor Counties cricket. Now coaching with the Devon County Cricket Board, Jack is an ABSAT Master Coach and ECB Level 2 qualified.

    His practical knowledge and player-centred approach help fast bowlers develop strong fundamentals and confidence.

    Sprint Coach

    Jason Fergus

    Jason Fergus is an Olympic-class sprint coach and gold medallist, having won gold as part of Great Britain’s 4x100m relay team at the 1992 World Junior Games alongside legends like Darren Campbell.

    Jason specialises in sprint technique and speed development and has worked extensively at grassroots level as well as with Sport England and England Athletics. His expertise plays a key role in enhancing the explosive power and speed of NFBA athletes.

    S&C Head Coach

    Joe Reed

    Joe Reed is an elite Strength & Conditioning expert with a first-class degree and a Masters with distinction in Strength & Conditioning Science. Having worked with Olympic medalists across three countries, Joe brings world-class training experience to NFBA.

    A former fast bowler and university first-team cricketer himself, Joe understands the unique physical demands of fast bowling and tailors programmes accordingly. He has coached at Essex Cricket and continues to work with the nation’s top tennis players and number one ranked national age group athletes.

    S&C Coach

    Jordan Edwards

    Jordan Edwards is a dynamic Junior Athletic Development Coach based at Dukes Meadows, West London, where he helps shape the careers of future tennis stars. Holding a first-class honours BSc in Sports Rehabilitation & Strength and Conditioning from the University of Plymouth, Jordan is currently completing an MSc in Strength & Conditioning at St Mary’s University.

    His passion and expertise combine to elevate young athletes’ physical performance and unlock their full potential on the international stage.

    Sports Psychology and Mindset Coach

    Nathan Wood

    Nathan Wood combines the experience of a professional cricketer with a deep understanding of coaching and performance psychology. A former opening batter for Lancashire and Young England, Nathan’s highest First-Class score was 155 against title-winning Surrey at The Oval, and he was once tipped for senior international honours. Those early experiences — of both promise and pressure — shaped his lifelong interest in how mindset influences performance. After retiring from playing, he became one of the UK’s most respected coaches, earning cricket’s highest coaching award, the ECB Level 4, alongside a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Coaching and graduation from the UK Sport World-Class Mentoring Programme. Nathan began his ECB career as International and Specialist Lead, where he headed up the prestigious Level 4 Master Coach Programme, before serving as Head of Coach Development for England Cricket. These roles saw him support professional coaches across England and Wales and contribute to elite player development at every level. Motivated by those experiences, he founded Cricket Mind Online, an innovative platform that blends coaching and sport psychology to help cricketers prepare with clarity, perform with confidence, and reconnect with their love of the game.

    PATHWAY & PLAYER DEVELOPMENT COACH

    Brad Oakes

    Brad Oakes is an ECB Level 3 Coach and is currently working towards the ECB Level 4 Specialist Coach Award. He is involved across both boys’ and girls’ pathways at Essex County Cricket, where he serves as Co-Lead Coach for the Boys U14 CAG squad and Lead Coach within the Primary Age Groups programme (U12 and below).

    Within the girls’ pathway, Brad coaches on the Essex Girls EPP and Academy programmes, as well as supporting the U13/14 Girls CAG squads. Alongside his county commitments, he coaches year-round with HECC academies and brings over ten years of experience delivering high-quality 1-to-1 coaching.

    As a player, Brad represented Hertfordshire County Cricket up to U18 level and continues to play for his local club, Sawbridgeworth CC.

    What Brad brings:

    Brad brings a thoughtful, player-centred approach to coaching, combining strong technical knowledge with a clear focus on long-term player development. His experience across multiple county programmes allows him to support athletes with tailored guidance, helping them understand their game and progress with confidence.

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