FORMER Somerset seamer Steffan Jones will be working in next year's IPL having been appointed as Rajasthan Royals' bowling coach.

Jones is currently director of Sports Performance and Wellbeing at Wellington School, where he will continue working in conjunction with his new role.

Jones said, “It is a privilege for me to get this role and work with one of the best T20 teams in the world. Rajasthan Royals have a great culture of unearthing new talent and developing its cricketers which I am excited to be a part of. I am really looking forward to this opportunity to work with an extremely talented group of fast bowlers.”

Jones, who was regarded highly as a fast bowler playing for several county teams in a career spanning 14 years, worked with the likes of Stuart Broad and Dan Christian during his short coaching stint with Hobart Hurricanes last year.

Broad even rated him ‘right up there’ among the best bowling coaches he had worked with.

Starting his first class career in 1997, Jones represented Somerset, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and Kent taking 387 wickets in 148 matches at an average of 36.87. He took 10 five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul.

Jones has played rugby professionally while his research into other sports like javelin and baseball has helped him think laterally and bring innovative ideas into fast bowling coaching.

Rajasthan Royals head of cricket, Zubin Bharucha said: “Jones thinks differently, and that is what we love at the Royals.

"His research into other sports is extremely interesting and his data and sports science focus meant he was a perfect fit for RR. Steffan brings in a fresh perspective to the art of fast bowling and we are excited to have him at Rajasthan Royals."