Kevon Cooper

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Kevon Cooper

| image =

| country = West Indies

| fullname = Kevon Keston Cooper

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|2|2|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| heightm =

| batting = Right-handed

| family = Kevin Molino (brother)

| bowling = Right-arm medium

| role = All-rounder

| club1 = Trinidad and Tobago

| year1 = {{nowrap|2008–2015}}

| clubnumber1 = 20

| club2 = Chittagong Kings

| year2 = {{nowrap|2012–2013}}

| club3 = Uthura Rudras

| year3 = 2012

| club4 = Rajasthan Royals

| year4 = {{nowrap|2012–2014}}

| club5 = Trinbago Knight Riders

| year5 = {{nowrap|2013–2018}}

| club6 = Barisal Bulls

| year6 = 2015

| club7 = Lahore Qalandars

| year7 = 2016

| club8 = Khulna Titans

| year8 = 2016

| club9 = Leeward Islands

| year9 = {{nowrap|2017–2018}}

| club10 = Dhaka Dynamites

| year10 = 2017

| type1 = FC

| debutdate1 = 9 March

| debutyear1 = 2012

| debutfor1 = Trinidad and Tobago

| debutagainst1 = Jamaica

| type2 = LA

| debutdate2 = 20 October

| debutyear2 = 2011

| debutfor2 = Trinidad and Tobago

| debutagainst2 = Combined Campuses and Colleges

| columns = 3

| column1 = FC

| matches1 = 2

| runs1 = 83

| bat avg1 = 27.66

| 100s/50s1 = 0/1

| top score1 = 58

| deliveries1 = 144

| wickets1 = 1

| bowl avg1 = 83.00

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/32

| catches/stumpings1 = 4/–

| column2 = LA

| matches2 = 20

| runs2 = 188

| bat avg2 = 15.66

| 100s/50s2 = 0/1

| top score2 = 62*

| deliveries2 = 580

| wickets2 = 23

| bowl avg2 = 17.39

| fivefor2 = 1

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 5/17

| catches/stumpings2 = 3/–

| column3 = T20

| matches3 = 164

| runs3 = 753

| bat avg3 = 12.76

| 100s/50s3 = 0/0

| top score3 = 42*

| deliveries3 = 3,250

| wickets3 = 195

| bowl avg3 = 20.07

| fivefor3 = 1

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 5/15

| catches/stumpings3 = 57/–

| date = 15 January 2021

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/371814.html ESPNcricinfo

}}

Kevon Keston Cooper (born 2 February 1989){{cricinfo|id=371814|access-date=15 February 2012}} is a former cricketer from Trinidad and Tobago. He played for Trinidad and Tobago and Leeward Islands as well as for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and in various other Twenty20 leagues around the world.

Early life

Cooper comes from a footballing family. One of his brothers, Kevin Molino, plays for Minnesota United in Major League Soccer. He grew up playing football as well but was persuaded by his father, a cricket fan, to switch his allegiance. When Cooper was picked for the T&T Under-19 squad, he left football behind.{{Cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2012-04-12/brothers-cooper-molino-sporting-stars |title=Brothers Cooper, Molino sporting stars |last=Fuentes |first=Shaun |date=12 April 2012 |work=The Trinidad Guardian |access-date=14 February 2018}}{{cite web|first=Tariq|last=Engineer|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2012/content/current/story/560695.html |title=Cooper's fairytale journey|date=10 April 2012|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=14 February 2018}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.mnufc.com/players/25/kevin-molino/kevin-molino |title=Kevin Molino |publisher=Minnesota United FC |access-date=14 February 2018}}

Cricket career

In January 2011, cricket officials raised concerns over Cooper's bowling action, and he went to the University of Western Australia to undergo tests and undertake remedial work to correct the fault in his bowling action. In August 2011, Cooper was cleared to play.{{cite news|last=Seepersad|first=Roger|title=T & T bowlers cleared|url=http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Cooper__Narine_cleared-128054293.html|access-date=15 February 2012|newspaper=Trinidad and Tobago Express|date=19 August 2011}}

He returned and participated in the Champions League in 2011. Mixing speeds with his medium pacers to good effect, he took five wickets in six games while conceding just 5.29 runs an over. Coming in at No. 7, he posted a strike rate of 191.17 at an average of 21.66. It was these attributes that drew the attention of the Royals, who bought him for $50,000 in the IPL player auction.

During Rajasthan Royals' first game against Kings XI Punjab, he hit his first ball for a six and followed it up with a four. With the ball in hand, he claimed 4 wickets. Against Kolkata Knight Riders, he took 3 more wickets.