Cricket writer, Colin Bateman, stated "A player held in great respect by his fellow professionals, Cook got his big chance when the first rebel tour went to South Africa in 1982, but he was unable to convert his consistent county form into Test success".

Cook made a century as captain and was man of the match in the final of the NatWest Bank Trophy in 1981 at Lord's against Derbyshire, although he finished on the losing side.

)[3] His 1981 Lord's hundred helped win Cook selection on England's tours that to winter to India and Sri Lanka.

[4] It was observed that he mounted a "staunch battle for Test recognition" towards the end of these tours,[5] with scores of 104 in successive first-class innings against the Central Zone,[6] and the Sri Lanka Board President's XI.

Under Cook's guidance, Durham won their first major title in the club's history at Lord's in 2007, and went on to win the County Championship for the first time in 2008, and again in 2009.