Nicholas Cooper

{{Short description|English cricketer and Geologist}}

{{For|the English actor|Nicholas D. Cooper}}

{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name =

| country = England

| fullname = Nicholas Henry Charles Cooper

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|10|14|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bristol, England

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| heightm =

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Right-arm off break

| role =

| family =

| club1 = Cambridge University

| year1 = 1979

| clubnumber1 =

| club2 = Gloucestershire

| year2 = 1975–1978

| clubnumber2 =

| columns = 2

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 24

| runs1 = 825

| bat avg1 = 22.29

| 100s/50s1 = 1/3

| top score1 = 106

| deliveries1 = 510

| wickets1 = 7

| bowl avg1 = 39.57

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = 2/11

| catches/stumpings1 = 10/–

| column2 = List A

| matches2 = 9

| runs2 = 85

| bat avg2 = 9.44

| 100s/50s2 = –/–

| top score2 = 37

| deliveries2 = 228

| wickets2 = 2

| bowl avg2 = 77.00

| fivefor2 = –

| tenfor2 = –

| best bowling2 = 1/39

| catches/stumpings2 = –/–

| date = 13 October

| year = 2011

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/11305.html Cricinfo

}}

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.

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.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28709/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Nicholas Cooper|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 October 2011}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28709/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Nicholas Cooper|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 October 2011}} His only century came against Oxford University in 1976.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/35/35963.html|title=Oxford University v Gloucestershire, 1976|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 October 2011}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28709/List_A_Matches.html|title=List A Matches played by Nicholas Cooper|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 October 2011}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28709/a_Batting_by_Team.html|title=List A Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Nicholas Cooper|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 October 2011}}

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. 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. He also took 6 wickets for the university, which came at a bowling average of 36.00, with best figures of 2/11.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28709/f_Bowling_by_Team.html|title=First-class Bowling For Each Team by Nicholas Cooper|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 October 2011}} He also played List A cricket for the Combined Universities in the 1979 Benson & Hedges Cup, making four appearances. Again he struggled in the limited-overs format, scoring 58 runs at an average of 14.50, with a highest score of 37. He did though take his only wickets in that format for the Combined Universities.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28709/a_Bowling_by_Team.html|title=List A Bowling For Each Team by Nicholas Cooper|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 October 2011}}

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 is currently teaching geology at Westcliff High School for Boys, where he has been working for over 40 years - he lost his personal office in 2020, but is still teaching at the school.{{cite web |url=http://www.whsb.essex.sch.uk/2498/about-us/staff|title=STAFF LIST: ACADEMIC YEAR 2014-15|date=|website=Westcliff High School for Boys|accessdate=23 December 2014}}