Ian Cockbain to leave Glos after 12 years at the end of the season
11 August 2022
Ian Cockbain will leave Gloucestershire after 12 years at the Club at the end of the season.
Having started his career in the Lancashire youth set-up, Cockbain signed for Gloucestershire in 2010 and made his debut in Bristol in 2011. In the 11 years that have followed Cockbain has made 267 appearances and has scored a total of 7,787 across all three formats for The Shire.
While he has contributed heavily across the board for Glos, Cockbain is best known for his explosive big-hitting in T20 cricket. With 142 appearances to his name, Cockbain holds the record for the most T20 appearances for Gloucestershire in which he has scored 3470 runs at an average of 31.54. Arguably his best performance came against Middlesex in Bristol in 2018, when he scored 123 off 61 balls to help Glos to a 70-run victory.
In 2019 Cockbain topped the team average in the Vitality Blast with 34.62 and enjoyed his best ever T20 season in 2015, scoring 392 runs at an average of 39.2. In his T20 career at Glos Cockbain has scored 19 fifties and one century, cementing himself in history as one of Gloucestershire’s greatest ever T20 batters.
Speaking of his departure from Glos, Cockbain said: “I would like to start by saying a massive thank you to everyone involved at Gloucestershire.
“The last 12 years have been such a huge part of my life, from being given the opportunity to play professional cricket to now having my family in Bristol.
“I have loved every second of representing Gloucestershire and it is sad that I won’t be able to pull on the shirt again. Having said that, I am extremely excited to be starting a new chapter in my career.
“I would like to thank all the supporters for making my time so special and being behind us through the good time and the bad. I look forward to seeing you all around the traps in the future.”
Cockbain’s talent in white-ball cricket shone through as bright as ever in his similarly explosive List A appearances for Gloucestershire over the years. In 68 appearances, Cockbain scored 1,633 runs at an average of 34.02, with his highest-scoring innings coming against Middlesex at Lord’s. On that day in 2017, Cockbain scored a terrific 108* as Gloucestershire eased to a five-wicket win.
The versatile top-order batter has also flexed his muscles in First-Class cricket and in 57 matches, has scored 2,684 runs at an average of 29.83. His most memorable innings in the famous Gloucestershire whites came against Surrey in Bristol, in 2014, when his heroic 151* off 421 balls rescued a draw for the home side, who were starring down the barrel of a defeat having been bowled out for 112 in the first innings.
Steve Snell, Performance Director at Gloucestershire Cricket, said: “Since joining us from the MCC Young Cricketers programme, Ian has been a fantastic player for Gloucestershire Cricket. He has excited supporters with his flamboyant range of shots and has been an instrumental part of many Gloucestershire sides during his time here.
“Ian has been an exceptional ambassador for Gloucestershire Cricket both on and off the field and we wish him well in his future endeavours. Ian and his family will always be welcome back at the Seat Unique Stadium.”
