Nick Cook (cricketer)
Nicholas Grant Billson Cook (born 17 June 1956) is an English cricket umpire and former player who appeared in 15 Tests and three ODIs between 1983 and 1989. A slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler and a lower order right-handed batsman, he played first-cl* and List A cricket from 1978 to 1994. He is currently an ECB appointed umpire on the professional circuit. He was born in Leicester and attended Lutterworth Grammar School.
Cook made his international debut against New Zealand. He picked up 32 wickets in his first four Tests, taking four five-fors, including one on debut (after he had been called up at short notice), and a best bowling match return of 11 for 83 against Pakistan at Karachi. As of 2022, these remain the best Test match figures ever taken by a visting bowler in Pakistan.
However, Cook's next 11 Tests, spread over a period of five years, fetched him 20 wickets at an average of 56.75. He had more success as a bowler against Pakistan and New Zealand than against Australia and the West Indies. He was finally dropped from Test cricket after the 1989 series against Australia in which England surrendered the Ashes. His total of 52 Test wickets were taken at an average of 32.48. He played his last one-day international that autumn in the Nehru Cup.
In the domestic game, Cook played for Leicestershire, before later moving to Northamptonshire. He was part of the Northamptonshire team that lost the final of both the Benson and Hedges Cup and the NatWest Trophy at Lord's in 1987, but five years later also featured on the winning side in the final of the latter tournament.
Since retiring from the game, Cook has become an umpire and in November 2008, was promoted to the ECB full list for the 2009 season.