Cook reflects on proudest moment

Durham pipped Nottinghamshire to the LV Division One title only 16 years since they played their inaugural first-class fixture, with their victory at Kent followed by the home side's defeat to Hampshire at Trent Bridge.

For Middlesbrough-born Cook it was the sweetest of moments and he said: "When you win the County Championship, which has been going for 120 years, then you've joined history. It has been a rocky road in many ways over the years."

Cook is an ever-present from the very earliest days when Ian Botham and other luminaries were completing their careers in the north east.

Success remained well out of Durham's reach until two years ago, since when they have been a threat in all competitions under the captaincy of Dale Benkenstein.

"Those years were romantic," Cook recalled. "We had lots of top names who came along and enjoyed what Durham had to offer.

"Following that generation we had to get down to brass tacks and try to create the solid base which, we hope, we have now."

Callum Thorp's career-best seven for 88 hastened Durham's victory against Kent but Steve Harmison finished the job by taking the last two Kent wickets with successive deliveries.

Harmison's 60 championship victims - in a season largely spent re-establishing his England credentials - were a huge contribution, and one readily recognised by Cook.

"Stephen's pace has obviously troubled everyone all season," he said. "This year we were lucky to call on him for probably two thirds of the campaign and he's been terrific, helping the other bowlers feed off him."