{{Short description|English cricketer and geology teacher}} {{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 geology teacher. Cooper was a left-handed batsman who bowled right-arm off break. He was born in Bristol. Until 2025, he worked 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.<ref name="FCM">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="FCBAT">{{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}}</ref> His only century came against Oxford University in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/35/35963.html|title=Oxford University v Gloucestershire, 1976|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=13 October 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref name="LAM">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="LABAT">{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref name="FCM"/> 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.<ref name="FCBAT"/> He also took 6 wickets for the university, which came at a bowling average of 36.00, with best figures of 2/11.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He also played List A cricket for the Combined Universities in the 1979 Benson & Hedges Cup, making four appearances.<ref name="LAM"/> Again he struggled in the limited-overs format, scoring 58 runs at an average of 14.50, with a highest score of 37.<ref name="LABAT"/> He did though take his only wickets in that format for the Combined Universities.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 retired from teaching geology at Westcliff High School for Boys at the end of the 2024/25 academic year, where he had worked for over 40 years.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/11305.html Nicholas Cooper] at ESPNcricinfo *[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28709/28709.html Nicholas Cooper] at CricketArchive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Nicholas}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:Cricketers from Bristol Category:English cricketers Category:Gloucestershire cricketers Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge Category:Cambridge University cricketers Category:British Universities cricketers Category:Hertfordshire cricketers Category:20th-century English sportsmen