Dominic Cork

Cork is an effusive all-rounder who played 37 Tests and 32 one-day internationals for England.

He claimed a five-wicket haul in his debut Test at Lord's in 1995, taking 7-43 in the second Test against West Indies and a memorable hat-trick in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

He also played his best innings at the home of cricket in 2000, again against West Indies, when his unbeaten 33 sealed a nerve-wracking two-wicket victory for England after the tourists had been dismissed for 54 in their second innings. Cork also took seven wickets in the match.

Renowned for his enthusiastic appealing and effervescent personality, Cork was named Derbyshire captain in 1999 but asked to be released from his contract at the end of the 2003 season to join Lancashire.

He claimed the second Old Trafford hat-trick of his career during the 2004 season when he repeated the feat in a Twenty20 Cup match against Nottinghamshire.

He helped Lancashire win Frizzell County Championship Division Two in 2005, contributing 540 runs and 43 wickets, and claimed 42 wickets at 25 apiece the following season.

Cork was less successful with the ball in 2007, taking 30 wickets at an average of 33, and the season ended in disappointing fashion on a personal and team level when he was last man out in Lancashire's valiant pursuit of 489 to beat Surrey and win the championship.

Lancashire announced in August that the 2008 season would be Cork's last at Old Trafford after they chose not to offer him a new contract, and he subsequently joined Hampshire on a two-year deal.

Cork characteristically set about proving he still had plenty to offer by leading both Hampshire’s first-class and one-day bowling averages.

The highlight of his season came when he tore through the Sussex top order en route to figures of 4-41 and the man-of-the-match award as Hampshire lifted the Friends Provident Trophy.

Having missed the start of the 2010 season to commentate on the Indian Premier League, Cork helped the newly-named Royals to more glory that summer.

In the absence of the injured Dimitri Mascarenhas and Nic Pothas, he led them to victory in a dramatic Friends Provident t20 final against Somerset at the Rose Bowl, which was tied but taken by the hosts due fewer wickets lost.

The veteran finished the season as Hampshire’s leading wicket-taker in all competitions, earning a one-year contract extension.

He officially replaced Dimitri Mascarenhas as captain for the 2011 season, helping the Royals to the Friends Life t20 semi-finals, but was released at the end of the campaign.