Nicholas Cooper

For the English actor, see Nicholas D. Cooper.

Nicholas Henry Charles Cooper (born 14 October 1953) is a former English cricketer and geologist. Cooper was a left-handed batsman who bowled right-arm off break. He was born in Bristol. He currently works at Westcliff High School for Boys.

Nicholas Cooper

Personal information
Full name	Nicholas Henry Charles Cooper
Born	(1953-10-14) 14 October 1953 (age 71) Bristol, England
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off break
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1979	Cambridge University
1975–1978	Gloucestershire
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A Matches 24 9 Runs scored 825 85 Batting average 22.29 9.44 100s/50s 1/3 –/– Top score 106 37 Balls bowled 510 228 Wickets 7 2 Bowling average 39.57 77.00 5 wickets in innings – – 10 wickets in match – – Best bowling 2/11 1/39 Catches/stumpings 10/– –/–
Source: Cricinfo, 13 October 2011

Cooper made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire against Yorkshire in the 1975 County Championship. He made sixteen further first-class appearances for the county, the last of which came against Worcestershire in the 1978 County Championship.^[1] In his seventeen first-class matches for the county, he scored 561 runs at an average of 18.80, with a high score of 106.^[2] His only century came against Oxford University in 1976.^[3] He made his List A debut for the county against Essex in the 1975 John Player League. He made four further List A appearances for Gloucestershire, the last of which came against Minor Counties West.^[4] He struggled in limited-overs matches for the county, scoring just 27 runs at an average of 5.40, with a high score of 12.^[5]

In 1979 he undertook studies at the University of Cambridge, while there he played first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club, making his debut against Leicestershire. He made six further first-class appearances for the university in that season, the last of which came against Oxford University.^[1] In his seven first-class appearances for the university, he scored 264 runs at an average of 37.71, with a highest score of 54.^[2] He also took 6 wickets for the university, which came at a bowling average of 36.00, with best figures of 2/11.^[6] He also played List A cricket for the Combined Universities in the 1979 Benson & Hedges Cup, making four appearances.^[4] Again he struggled in the limited-overs format, scoring 58 runs at an average of 14.50, with a highest score of 37.^[5] He did though take his only wickets in that format for the Combined Universities.^[7] After leaving first class cricket Cooper played for many years at Westcliff Cricket Club, Where he was a key part in one of the best sides in the club's illustrious history.

Cooper retired from teaching geology at Westcliff High School for Boys at the end of the 2024/25 academic year, where he had worked for over 40 years and was beloved by students and staff alike.^[8]