Jimmy Cook

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = South African
country = South Africa
country abbrev = RSA
name = Jimmy Cook
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm offbreak
balls = true
tests = 3
test runs = 107
test bat avg = 17.83
test 100s/50s = 0/0
test top score = 43
test overs = -
test wickets = -
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = 0/-
ODIs = 4
ODI runs = 67
ODI bat avg = 16.75
ODI 100s/50s = 0/0
ODI top score = 35
ODI overs = -
ODI wickets = -
ODI bowl avg = -
ODI 5s = -
ODI 10s = -
ODI best bowling = -
ODI catches/stumpings = 1/-
date = 25 January
year = 2006
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/44465.html Cricinfo

Stephen James Cook (born 31 July 1953 in Johannesburg, Transvaal) is a former South African cricketer who played in three Tests and four ODIs from 1991 to 1993.

Cook was a prolific opening batsman both in his native South Africa and for Somerset County Cricket Club but South Africa's exclusion from Test cricket cost him a significant test career. He played in all 19 of South Africa's 'unofficial test matches' against rebel sides. Aged over 40, and having waited two decades for an official Test cap, he edged Kapil Dev's opening ball, a late outswinger, to third slip in the First Test between South Africa and India at Durban in November 1992 to become the first debutant to be dismissed by the first ball of a Test match; Leon Garrick of Westindies also suffered this fate 9 years later.

Originally a middle-order batsman for Transvaal his career blossomed when he converted to the opening position. He captained the state later on in his career. Strangely ignored by county cricket in England until late in his career he scored over 7,500 runs for Somerset in his three seasons with the club, including an incredible 28 hundreds. In 270 first class matches he scored 21,143 runs with a top score of 313* at an average of 50.58. He scored 87 first class hundreds. This record compares well with any batsman in the history of the game. In 286 list A one day games he made 10,639 runs at 41.39 with a best of 177.

After Cook retired he became director of coaching with the UCBSA and had an unsuccessful spell with Hampshire which ended in 2002. As a coach at King Edward School in Johannesburg he oversaw the development of Graeme Smith.