Coaching a star-studded team to glory in front of 25,000 fans is a long way from the quiet surroundings of Halstead Cricket Club.

But globe-trotting Ian Pont has the best of both worlds as he combines playing for his local club with his growing reputation as one of the world’s best bowling coaches.

When the former Essex all-rounder retired from the professional game at the age of just 27, he initially moved away from the sport.

But 25 years later, Ian is running an in-demand cricket institute, with interested students around the globe.

In January the former Witham Cricket Club player is set to open a new fast bowling foundation in Bangalore, India.

Ian, 52, said: “I retired in 1988 with no plans, but now in 2013 I’m setting up a foundation in India.

“If you’d said that’s what I’d be doing I would have never believed it."

Full story in this week's Halstead Gazette and Braintree and Witham Times, out now.