While England went down in the West Indies, Cork could have been forgiven for sitting in front of his television and hankering for the days of '95 when he erupted into Test cricket with seven for 43 at Lord's, the wicket of Brian Lara cleverly thought out, and the man-of-the-match award.

A month later, at Old Trafford, he did the hat-trick, and all the while that his bowling threatened, his batting flourished, too. England won both those Test matches and drew the home series with the West Indies convincingly.

Yesterday his batting was workmanlike rather than warrior-like, which is its more usual style, but it will have brought him much relief and sense of achievement. A fortnight ago he wasn't touted to make the 12 and while England prepared together for the two days before the Test, he was not fancied to play, for he was on trial. How was Corky up top? Was his outswinger in the groove? Had he become an exhibitionist without substance or did his decent form for Derbyshire so far this season indicate that he was a quality cricketer on the way back and that the inherent flair could emerge with the healing head and heart?

It is easy enough to criticise players who lose their balance, their sense of reality and direction. It is more difficult to get them on track and to encourage their confidence from within their disappointment and mistrust. Derbyshire played their part by the gamble of giving him responsibility. Lord MacLaurin and David Graveney, to their great credit, played theirs by visiting Cork in the winter and, with a combination of an ego massage and some hard facts about the responsibilities and priorities of an England cricketer, gave him hope.

He was not forgotten, they insisted, but equally he must pull himself together.

Well, it appears that he has and his innings was the first proof to a wider audience than see him at the County Ground in Derby. It was combative but not showy and it was safe enough technically but not dull. For sure, it could have been more expressive, could have moved England along faster, but almost certainly he was responding to orders, and in Cork's situation you don't mess with orders, so it was intelligent.

Whatever this unusual character has been through privately and whatever the boo-boos that have led to his temporary fall from public grace, it is better to reflect on the marvellous talent and refreshing refusal to be ordinary that makes him an entertainer. It is two years now since his best for England and then he was a thrilling cricketer of world class. He can be so again and it is good the selectors have offered him the chance.