ON THIS DAY - 23rd October
Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | October 23, 2025
In 1965, TOM COOKE (#197) made a spectacular debut for Waratahs. Playing for A grade against Churches, he was part of a middle order revival that saw the side recover from 2-1 to be all out for 275. Youngster Geoff Marshall (#156) steadied the ship before Allan Cox (#160) and D LITTLE (#199) made half centuries. For Little, also on debut, his 88 remians the highest ever debut score in A grade. Cooke, batting at seven, smashed the Churches bowling in an innings of 62, which included three sixes.
On day two, he took the new ball and after early inroads, blasted out the tail taking 6-58, giving Waratahs the match.
Cooke would go on to be Waratahs most successful bowler in A grade, taking 372 wickets in eleven seasons, captaining the side and eventually being named in the Waratahs All Time XII.His batting would never again reach such heights beyond handy lower order contributions. He also had a spectacular career representing Armidale (New England, as it was known then).
HIs performance on debut is also remarkable in that it is both the second highest score and the second best bowling performamce on debut in A/1st grade by any Waratahs player. Little topped him on the day but it would take twenty eight years for Adam Marjoribanks (7-67) to eventually top his bowling figures on debut twenty eight years later.
Tom Cooke is a Waratahs legend.
