Dean Cosker
words Hamish Stuart
pictures Steve Pope
It may sound strange that in his benefit season, given as reward for lengthy, loyal service, Dean Cosker finally feels he is the senior spinner in the Glamorgan line-up.
After two tours with England A, as well as a championship winner's medal with Glam, Cosker can at last claim to be emerging from the shadow of Robert Croft at the Welsh county.
The side are challenging hard for promotion from division two of the County Championship, with signs of success not seen since Cosker fi rst played for Glamorgan in the late 90's in a team packed with home grown talent.
He was a teenager of immense talent, chased by several counties when he chose Glamorgan thanks to his Welsh father, but as a spinner his best years could well be ahead of him - he has not given up on furthering his England ambitions and he is getting into a position to push harder.
In a way it is impossible to see Cosker's career without it being linked closely with Croft, obviously an international class off-spinner and also useful batsman.
Cosker's best period came when Croft was away with England much of the time, when Croft made himself unavailable at international level then two spinners could not always be selected and Cosker's county opportunities dropped – along with his own international recognition.
“I do feel I am the senior spinner this season for the fi rst time. I have started every game this season and feel things are going well for me and the team,” said Cosker.
“I am thriving on it and I know I have got to grasp the opportunity with both hands.
“It has been great playing with Crofty, he is a fi ne cricketer - I have learned a lot from playing with him and watching him, but I do feel it is time for me to push on and I am working really hard on all parts of my game to do that. I feel I am a better player now than when I was playing for England A.
“I went on two England A tours, I was the top wicket taker on one and second only to Ashley Giles on the other. I have not given up on my international ambitions, particularly in the one day game, but it will only come if the team are successful.
“I was a little bit spoilt coming into the Glamorgan side at 17, 18 when Crofty was in and around the England side, then winning the Championship in my fi rst real season– something which lots of players never win in their whole careers.”
If that was the greatest high, there were a few lows to follow as energies and money went on developing the fabulous SWALEC Stadium ready for international cricket and last year's fi rst Ashes Test.
Now the ground is fi nished, it seems the pendulum has swung back towards developing a team fi t to grace it.
“I feel the good times are coming back, there is a buzz in the squad. I have played in some successful sides and I am feeling that same buzz in the changing room now,” said Cosker.
“It is the cliche about winning becoming a habit and you can set high standards.
“I would say the greatest moment of my career was taking the fi nal wicket for us to win the Championship in '97. I feel those glory years can come back now, we have a pretty good squad and the strength in depth has been shown.
“You have to take the positives out of the hard times, learn the lessons and work on your game, but it is hard when you lose players of such calibre over a short period of time.
“I also take encouragement from the success of Graeme Swann with England, because he had to wait to get the exposure to then come through at the top level.
“He moved county and at one time there was a temptation for me when I was only playing six or seven Championship games a season, but I did not want to move away – my family is here and the set-up is fantastic.
“I have seven or eight years left as a spinner and I want to use my benefi t year as a catalyst to give something back to the club.”
Already the Benefi t season has seen a black tie dinner in the Long Room at Lord's, there is a celebrity six-a-side at St Fagan's cricket club in June, while look out for Strictly Come Cosker – all he will reveal at this stage is that it does include dancing.
It means it is a big year for Dean Cosker in many ways – but none of them more important than the cricket target of re-establishing himself and Glamorgan in the top bracket.
For full details of Dean Cosker's benefi t year go to
www.cosker2010.
co.uk
SW
11
issue11twothousand&ten
sportingwales
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