Durham cricket coach Geoff Cook 'improving' after heart attack

Geoff Cook has been Durham's head coach since 2007 and has won two county championships

Durham County Cricket Club's head coach Geoff Cook has regained consciousness in hospital after suffering a heart attack, the club has said.

The 61-year-old former England opening batsman was taken ill at the club's Chester-le-Street ground last Thursday.

A spokesman said Cook was now "making steady progress" at Durham's Dryburn Hospital.

Middlesbrough-born Cook played in seven Tests and six one-day internationals for England in 1982 and 1983.

He became director of cricket at Durham when they became a first-class county in 1991.

He was named as head coach in 2007, immediately winning the Friends Provident Trophy, and brought the club consecutive county championship titles in 2008 and 2009.

The club spokesman added: "Geoff's family have asked us to thank all of the very many people whose messages of support have given such encouragement."