Wisden overview
A prolific opening batsmen and a prominent member of the lost generation, Jimmy Cook at least had a brief taste of Test cricket, when he became South Africa's third-oldest debutant, against India in 1992-93 aged 39 years and 105 days. He was out first ball and played only three matches for an unflattering average of 17.83 -- stark contrast to a first-class average of more than 50 in a career of 270 matches and over 21,000 runs. Tall, elegant and powerful, Cook prospered on the front foot when driving but was no less able square of the wicket, and was particularly efficient in clipping off-stump deliveries through the leg side, or hitting the quicks over mid-off. Some fast bowlers believed he was vulnerable against the short ball, but it was almost always an expensive exercise. Three seasons with Somerset were among the most productive ever seen and Cook still holds their record for the most centuries in a season, with 11 in 1990. His technical knowledge, canny people skills and popular character led inevitably to a coaching career where a spell as head of the South African Academy was ended by an approach from Hampshire. Neil Manthorp

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd