Dominic Cork
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 England (Eng) |
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| Batting style | Right-handed batsman (RHB) | |
| Bowling type | Right-arm fast-medium (RFM) | |
| Tests | ODIs | |
| Matches | 37 | 32 |
| Runs scored | 864 | 180 |
| Batting average | 18.00 | 10.00 |
| 100s/50s | 0/3 | 0/0 |
| Top score | 59 | 31* |
| Overs bowled | 1279.4 | 295.2 |
| Wickets | 131 | 41 |
| Bowling average | 29.81 | 33.36 |
| 5 wickets in innings | 5 | 0 |
| 10 wickets in match | 0 | N/A |
| Best bowling | 7-43 | 3-27 |
| Catches/stumpings | 18/0 | 6/0 |
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As of 13 June 2005 |
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Dominic Gerald Cork (born 7 August 1971 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire) is an English cricketer who bowls swing and seam. He is also a more than useful batsman, and at his best could be considered a genuine all-rounder, though he never quite fulfilled this dual promise at the highest level.
He was also a fine fielder, either close to the wicket or in the deep.
Cork made his first-class debut with Derbyshire against the touring New Zealanders in 1990, and was a regular member of the county side the following year, gaining the sort of attention he has always revelled in by taking 8-53 against a very strong Essex side destined to be that year's County Champions. Unsurprisingly, he went to the West Indies with the A team in the winter, and made his One-Day International debut in 1992.
Despite playing a handful more ODIs, in general the following few seasons were somewhat less successful for Cork -- though he did score his first century in 1993 -- but in 1995 he rediscovered his form with a vengeance, taking 90 wickets including a career-best 9-43 against Northants and being called up by England to face the West Indians at Lord's. Cork rose to the occasion magnificently, taking 7-43 in the second innings, the best figures by an Englishman on debut, to help England level the series. He finished the series with 26 wickets and, after a productive time in South Africa that winter and a full part in England's disappointing World Cup, looked to have made his place secure. He was made a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1996.
There was, however, a feeling in some quarters that Cork was more style than substance, and in 1996/97, while he was on tour in New Zealand, he was the target of an infamous comment from Geoffrey Boycott who alleged that Cork was a "show pony". The accusation hurt, but undoubtedly Cork's performances were generally less than superb away from home, and in any case Cork was prevented from answering Boycott back in the best way possible when injury kept him out of most of the 1997 English season. He was recalled to the Test side in 1998, playing in all six matches that summer, but failed to spark on the Ashes tour that winter and never again played an overseas Test; indeed, two ICC Champions Trophy matches in 2002/03 were the only further times he played any sort of international cricket away from home.
At home, however, he was still worth his place in the England team, making some small but crucial contributions against West Indies in 2000, not least in the second Test where his 33 not out guided England to a two-wicket win that set them up for a famous series victory. Domestically, though, storm clouds were gathering, both in his personal life and at Derbyshire. Cork had been appointed captain of his county in 1999, but a difficult task was made impossible by internal divisions at the club. As the rifts between Cork and management, and between player and player, grew ever wider so his form began to suffer, and though he made a double century against Durham in 2000, another injury in 2001 did not help his case. He did better in 2002, taking 64 wickets at 18.90, but the writing was on the wall and he left Derbyshire under a cloud at the end of 2003.
Cork's early days at his new county of Lancashire brought him only qualified success; it was more a case of individual fine performances than of the sustained success which Lancashire no doubt hoped for, and the club's relegation to Division 2 of the Championship in 2004 deprived Cork of what he likes the most: the chance to play on the biggest stages against the very best opponents. The county were promoted back to Division 1 the following season, and in 2006 they mounted a sustained challenge for the Championship title which lasted until the last game of the season. Cork himself, however, had mixed fortunes over those two seasons: he took around 40 first-class wickets in each, but was banned from the first 50-over game of 2007 after an incident at the 2006 C&G Trophy final. [1]
