Ian Cockbain

Ian Cockbain (19 April 1958 – 2 September 2022) was an English cricketer. He was born in Bootle, Lancashire.

Cockbain, a right-handed batsman who bowled slow left arm orthodox, made his first-class début for Lancashire against Leicestershire towards the end of the 1979 County Championship. In his second match the following season against eventual champions Middlesex at Lord's Cricket Ground, he helped Lancashire secure a draw, scoring 69 runs. Cockbain played a further 45 first-class appearances for Lancashire, the last of which came against Glamorgan in the 1983 County Championship. In his 46 first-class matches, he scored 1,456 runs at an average of 21.10, with a high score of 98. This score, which was one of seven first-class fifties he made, came against Warwickshire in 1982. He made his List A debut against Middlesex in the 1980 John Player League. Cockbain went on to make 26 further appearances in that format for the county, the last of which came against Hampshire in the 1983 John Player Special League. In his 27 List A matches for the county, he scored 313 runs at an average of 16.47, with a high score of 53 not out. He left Lancashire at the end of the 1983 season.

He joined Cheshire for the 1984 season, making his début against Cumberland in the MCCA Knockout Trophy. He played Minor counties cricket for Cheshire from 1984 to 2001, making 146 Minor Counties Championship appearances and 47 MCCA Knockout Trophy appearances. He made his first List A appearance for Cheshire in the 1985 NatWest Trophy against Yorkshire. Cockbain made sixteen further List A appearances for the county, the last of which came against Cornwall in the second round of the 2002 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy which was played in 2001.