Cook (Brentford cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Cook was an English professional cricket
er from Brentford
who played in major matches for Middlesex
during the 1730s. He was "reckoned one of the best bowlers in England".
. He played as a given man for London Cricket Club
versus Surrey
on Saturday, 7 June; and for a combined London & Middlesex XI versus Kent
on Saturday, 12 July.
In the first match, Cook was hired as a replacement for Ellis
of London, who was "their best bowler". With Cook's help, London won the game by 9 wickets. In the second match, he was one of three Middlesex players in the combined XI which included eight London players.
As Cook had established his reputation by 1735, he must have been active for some years previously and his career probably began in the 1720s. Very few players were mentioned by name in contemporary reports and there are no other references to Cook.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er from Brentford
Brentford
Brentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
who played in major matches for Middlesex
Middlesex county cricket teams
Middlesex county cricket teams have been traced back to the 18th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Given that the first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford, it is almost certain that the game had reached...
during the 1730s. He was "reckoned one of the best bowlers in England".
Career
Cook is mentioned in 1735 re two matches at Moulsey HurstMoulsey Hurst
Moulsey Hurst is located in what is now West Molesey, Surrey on the south bank of the River Thames above Molesey Lock. It is one of England's oldest sporting venues and was used in the 18th and 19th centuries for cricket, prizefighting and other sports....
. He played as a given man for London Cricket Club
London Cricket Club
The original London Cricket Club was formed by 1722 and was one of the foremost clubs in English cricket over the next four decades. It is closely associated with the Artillery Ground, where it played most of its home matches.-Early history of London cricket:...
versus Surrey
Surrey county cricket teams
Surrey county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford.-17th century:...
on Saturday, 7 June; and for a combined London & Middlesex XI versus Kent
Kent county cricket teams
Kent county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Kent, jointly with Sussex, is the birthplace of the sport...
on Saturday, 12 July.
In the first match, Cook was hired as a replacement for Ellis
Ellis (London cricketer)
Ellis was an English cricketer who played for London Cricket Club in major matches during the 1730s. He was described in a contemporary report as London's "best bowler".-Career:...
of London, who was "their best bowler". With Cook's help, London won the game by 9 wickets. In the second match, he was one of three Middlesex players in the combined XI which included eight London players.
As Cook had established his reputation by 1735, he must have been active for some years previously and his career probably began in the 1720s. Very few players were mentioned by name in contemporary reports and there are no other references to Cook.