Steven Crook

Crook was born and brought up in Australia, of British parents. He holds a United Kingdom passport, so is not classified as an overseas player for the purposes of county cricket's overseas player restrictions.{{cite web|last1=Oliver|first1=Scott|title=The Shire Brigade: Steven Crook {{!}} County Cricket {{!}} All Out Cricket|url=http://www.alloutcricket.com/features/the-shire-brigade-steven-crook|website=alloutcricket.com|accessdate=1 September 2016}} While he was playing league cricket in England, he caught the eye of Lancashire and was offered a contract. He made his County Championship debut in September 2003 versus Warwickshire, having previously played a first-class match against university opposition and two limited over county games.

Crook moved to Northamptonshire in 2005, and played for them until 2009. He left Northants in 2009, having been severely limited by injury; in his final season he was only able to play two first-class matches. He spent the 2010 season out of county cricket, playing for Brixworth in the Northamptonshire Cricket League, before signing for Middlesex the following year.{{cite web|title=Steven Crook signs for Middlesex|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/500384.html|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=1 September 2016}} He played two seasons for Middlesex, taking 44 wickets at an average of 30.59 in 16 first-class games.

In 2013 he returned to play for Northants.{{cite web|title=Middlesex reluctantly release Crook|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/585705.html|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=1 September 2016}} He scored his maiden first-class century in June 2014 against former club Middlesex,{{cite web|title=Middlesex v Northamptonshire|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/595/595907.html|website=Cricketarchive.com|accessdate=1 September 2016}} and has since scored four more. He has been to Twenty20 finals day three times, twice finishing on the winning team, in 2013{{cite web|last1=Gibson|first1=Richard|title=Northamptonshire's David Willey's treble sees off Surrey in t20 final|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/aug/17/friends-life-t20-final|website=The Guardian|accessdate=1 September 2016|date=17 August 2013}} and 2016,{{cite web|last1=Macpherson|first1=Will|title=Josh Cobb steers Northants over line to win NatWest T20 Blast against Durham|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/20/durham-northampton-natwest-t20-blast-final-match-report|website=The Guardian|accessdate=1 September 2016|date=20 August 2016}} and as runners-up in 2015.{{cite web|last1=Rae|first1=Richard|title=Lancashire clinch T20 title by holding nerve against Northamptonshire|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/29/lancashire-northamptonshire-t20-finals-day-cricket|website=The Guardian|accessdate=1 September 2016|date=29 August 2015}}

Crook also fronts a band, Juliet the Sun, as lead vocalist.{{cite news|url=http://www.ecb.co.uk/twelfthman/juliet-the-sun,308262,EN.html |title=Juliet steals Crook's heart |date=28 October 2009 |work=ecb.co.uk |access-date=11 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814235048/http://www.ecb.co.uk/twelfthman/juliet-the-sun%2C308262%2CEN.html |archive-date=14 August 2010 }} Tabloids told that they provided inspiration for England during the 2005 Ashes and even became brief tabloid darlings when it emerged that former team-mates James Anderson and Monty Panesar were blasting out their signature tune, "Time for Heroes", in the dressing room in between sessions.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/crook-calls-time-out-on-career,308270,EN.html |title=Crook calls time-out on career |publisher=European Central Bank |date=4 January 2010 |access-date=16 August 2015 |author=Coyne, James |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120005139/http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/crook-calls-time-out-on-career%2C308270%2CEN.html |archive-date=20 January 2016 }}{{youTube|WdxXAdRD8VE|Juliet The Sun - Time For Heroes}}

Crook plays at the Cricketers Arms.{{cite web|url=http://www.northamptonbands.co.uk/index.php?view=venueevents&id=1571%3Athe-cricketers-arms&task=archive&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=88|title=The Cricketers Arms - Archive 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421013814/http://www.northamptonbands.co.uk/index.php?view=venueevents&id=1571:the-cricketers-arms&task=archive&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=88|archive-date=21 April 2013}} in Northampton.

Crook is involved in supporting various charities including a 2015 £1 per run and more benefit for Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS)-sufferer, Lewis Herbert.{{cite web | url=http://www.runs4funds.org/#!about-us/c1ipq | title=About Us | publisher=Runs4Funds | accessdate=16 August 2015}} Among those assisting have been Jimmy Anderson,{{cite web | url=http://www.runs4funds.org/#!news-and-updates/cqgk | title=News & Updates | publisher=Runs4Funds | accessdate=20 August 2015}} Graeme Swann, The Cube Disability and many others. Besides Crook, The Cube sponsors Northants Steelbacks Mohammad Azharullah.{{cite web|url=http://thecubedisability.co.uk/News/SponsorshipAdvertisements/tabid/105/ID/145/Proud-Sponsors-of-3-Northants-Steelbacks-Players.aspx |title=Proud Sponsors of 3 Northants Steelbacks Players |publisher=The Cube Disability |date=15 May 2015 |access-date=20 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109191201/http://www.thecubedisability.co.uk/News/SponsorshipAdvertisements/tabid/105/ID/145/Proud-Sponsors-of-3-Northants-Steelbacks-Players.aspx |archive-date= 9 November 2015 }}

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Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian cricketers

Category:Northamptonshire cricketers

Category:Lancashire cricketers

Category:Australian expatriate cricketers in England

Category:Middlesex cricketers

Category:Cricketers from Adelaide

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen