Ian Andrew Cockbain is an English cricketer who currently plays for Gloucestershire. A right-handed batsman and right-hand medium pace bowler, he made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire against Derbyshire in August 2011. Cockbain joined Gloucestershire in 2010 on a two-year deal after impressing opening for MCC young cricketers.
Personal life
Cockbain's father, also called Ian, made 47 first-class cricket appearances for Lancashire in the 1980s, making 7 first-class half-centuries, top scoring with 98.
County career
Cockbain started his career playing youth cricket for Lancashire, however he did not make a competitive appearance for the first team. He was then picked up by Marylebone Cricket Club young cricketers before joining Gloucestershire in 2010. He made his first-class debut in a seven-wicket victory against Derbyshire in April 2011. He opened the batting along with Chris Dent and scored just 5 in the first innings as Gloucestershire posted 343. In the second innings he saw Gloucestershire to victory, scoring 59 not out and making his maiden first-class half century. In the following game of the season he scored 21 and 47 against Glamorgan in a 189-run defeat. Cockbain made his List A debut against Glamorgan on 24 April; he scored just 4 in a three-wicket victory for Gloucestershire. Cockbain made scored of 1 and 72 as Gloucestershire drew in a first-class tie against Middlesex in May 2011. Cockbain scored his maiden first-class century in June 2011 against Middlesex in a drawn match. He scored 127 from 233 deliveries batting at number five, a knock which included 16 fours and 1 six. On 24 July, Cockbain made his highest one-day score of 79 runs from 84 balls in a 19-run defeat. On 4 August 2011, Cockbain scored 59 from 50 balls to record his third one-day half-century in a six-wicket defeat. He has secured a place in the Gloucestershire 1st XI middle order as a reliable batsman, and recorded one day half centuries against Essex and Lancashire respectively in 2012 to go with a match saving 112 and 51 against Hampshire at Bristol. In 2013, Cockbain was used almost exclusively by Gloucestershire as a limited oversplayer. Players from the 2nd XI being promoted over him, resulting in him playing just one first-class match in 2013.
