Col Cooke played 5 first class games for Queensland in 1976/77 taking 17 wickets at an average 30.35 and his best figures was 4 for 59. Col has represented Queensland Veterans Cricket in Over 60s and 70s and is QLD Veterans #7
Let’s find out a little more about Col
Firstly, what year were you born?
1947
What is your nickname?
Burra
What was your most memorable moment in junior cricket?
I grew up in the small town of Harrisville and only played at school on a concrete pitch with a cork ball and no pads. We did not play against other schools until I was in Grade 8 when we had a new teacher who was more interested in sport.
My first real experience of junior cricket was when I started work as an apprentice in Ipswich when I was 15 years old and was selected in the Ipswich Under 18 team. We defeated Brisbane outright in less than a day. What an introduction to representative cricket!
Do you have a particular routine before a game?
Do an inventory of clothes and gear. Arrive early and be ready early.
How do you amuse yourself on a plane flight?
Do sudoku and crosswords. Listen to music. If there is a good movie, I will watch it.
Which singer/band would you like to see perform live?
Queen. A shame Freddy is no longer with us.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Tim Spear, who was a team mate on the 2018 Over 70 tour of England. Always looking for a bit of fun and practical jokes.
Who has been your most annoying team mate?
Tim Spear
If you won the lottery, what would you buy first?
Probably a unit on either the Gold or Sunshine Coasts or both. A first class flight to Norway to see the Northern Lights. Seen them once, but would love to do it again.
What’s your favorite city in the world to visit?
London. So much history and places to see. Been to Lords three times.
Who was your childhood hero?
I would make that heroes. Alan Davidson, Richie Benaud, Ken McKay.
I was lucky enough to play with Alan and Richie, when they played for Valleys Cricket Club in the Channel 0 Cup, in the mid-seventies. What an experience.
Ken (Slasher) McKay was State Coach when I was in the Queensland Squad from 1976/77 to 78/79. A lovely man.
Who was the fastest bowler you’ve played against?
Jeff Thomsen. Enough said.
Who was the best spinner you’ve played against?
Bob (Grumpy) Joyce. He bowled off spin for Sandgate Redcliffe. He was aggressive, always at you and rarely bowled a bad ball.
The best spinner I have faced, is Malcom Francke. Before Shane Warne, he was the best leg spinner going around. It was a tragedy that he did not get to play for Australia.
Who are the next two batsman to make their debut for the Queensland Bull in Shield Cricket?
I ‘m out of the loop of grade cricket now, but I know that Andrew Gode from Valleys has been knocking the door down for the last five years but cannot seem to impress the selectors for some reason.
Who are the two opponents in Queensland Veterans cricket you admire most in terms of skills and competitive spirit?
Ian Petherick is amazing in that he is continually trying to improve his game, even at his tender age. The results have been spectacular, as his performances for Queensland and Australia have shown.
Nev Kratzmaan is also always challenging to bowl against. He values his wicket and hates to get out and appears to hate bowlers.
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Being selected for Queensland for my first game against Pakistan in January 1977.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved in?
Defeating England 2-1 on the 2015 Over 60 Tour of England. I was captain on that tour and we really took it to them. They had dominated Australia in all matches until then, with the exception of the tied ODI at Manly in 2011. We had a great team and a happy tour. So far that is the only time they have been defeated on home soil in either Over 60 or Over 70 cricket.
What is your most treasured possession?
Probably my Queensland Sheffield Shield caps, but my Australian Over 60 cap runs a close second.
What’s your favourite food?
I like a good steak, but my favourite would be bangers and mash with onion gravy.
What’s your favourite TV show?
At the moment it would probably be Gogglebox. Who would have thought people could find other people watching television entertaining.
What are the three things you’re looking forward to doing outside cricket?
Stay healthy and mobile.
Keep out of nursing homes as long as I can.
Travel as long as I am able.
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