Cooky, you just electrocuted me
Shane Lee | May 07, 2023
"Roll on with your head held high" - The first line to the Living End song 'Roll on' and a moment in Simon Cook's life he’d rather forget.
Simon Hewitt Cook the former Victorian and NSW fast bowler, made his Test debut against New Zealand in 1997 taking an amazing seven wickets for the match as Glenn McGrath’s replacement. What followed next is beyond belief!
Simon known to his mates as ‘Cooky' is a product of the Mornington Peninsula - Crib Point to be exact. And is probably the most laid back person ever to slowly walk the face of this earth. He is so laconic that it is often hard to know if he is asleep or awake sometimes.
This slow talking, slow walking dichotomy would transform into an aggressive fast bowler once you put the red cherry in his hand. His slow walk back to twenty-six-metre run-up would start with a David Campese ‘Goose step’ as he then charged in, followed through down towards the batsmen, turned around and started the slow walk back again.
Following his outstanding performance in two Tests for Australia, McGrath returned for the last few Test Matches of the summer. Simon then resumed his off-season job as an electrician with South Sydney Council. Why Simon ever choose to do his trade as a sparky is beyond me. Being laid back and relaxed around 240 Volts of current is not an obvious choice! Anyway, I digress.
Simon takes his first Test wicket
During that off season, Simon was on a job in the South Sydney area. The fast bowling electrician found himself driving a steam roller up a ramp onto the back of a truck. Halfway up the ramp, the seat broke and Simon found himself being run over by a two-tonne roller. Luckily for the Simon, the roller only broke most of his ribs and an arm but missed his head and knees. He was saved by his work colleague who pulled Simon to safety and off to the hospital. His injuries were so severe it looked like he may never play cricket again.
During the next twelve months of rehab, I felt sorry for my teammate and offered him some electrical work at my place. I needed some downlights put in the roof and some new pool lights. “How long will this take Cooky?” “Ahhhh two days maaaate”.
A week into the job my wife told me Cooky was still working on the downlights and if I could I ask him when he expected to finish this two-day job!
“Cooky it is day five, when do you think you will be finished?” “Ahhh not a bad little bottle of red you have here.” Christ, he's found my cellar!
I then rushed home before he discovered my Barossa Reds.
Within minutes of returning home, I found myself now helping my electrician put in my new pool lights. “Shaneo, can you pass me the screwdriver please and go turn off the pool light switch.” I looked at my teammate dangling half in the pool as he played with electricity with his still broken ribs.
As I flicked the switch my finger caught an exposed wire that Simon had left out. I quickly hit the deck, screamed as power surged into my finger as it attempted to grab hold of me.
“For fake sake Cooky, you just electrocuted me.” “Did the power go through your body and out your foot?” “No” “Ahh you’ll be alright then.”
Simon returned to first-class cricket after only twelve months after his horrific accident. Not unexpected, the classy fast bowler performed well with his repaired body and settled his legal case with South Sydney Council.
Today you will still find Simon slowly walking around his vineyard in the Mornington Peninsula on the weekend and still working on the tools as a sparky during the week.
You will not find him working with electricity around my place ever again
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