Durham coach Geoff Cook back feeling 'absolutely fine'

Durham head coach Geoff Cook says he is ready to resume his duties after making a full recovery from a heart attack.

The 62-year-old was before returning to work with a restricted role in August as Durham won the County Championship.

"I feel absolutely, 100% fine and now I'm looking forward to getting back into cricket," he told BBC Newcastle.

"Obviously what happened came as a real shock to my family. But cricket's in my blood and I'm planning for next year."

Cook has worked at Durham since their inaugural County Championship season in 1991 in a variety of coaching positions, including overseeing the club's academy.

In 2007 he took over as head coach and in his first campaign led the club to Friends Provident Trophy success, followed by three Championship triumphs in the next six years.

Last summer, as well as losing Cook to ill health, Durham's all-time leading run-scorer Dale Benkenstein missed most of the season with a shoulder injury.

"Dale is in South Africa recovering from his operation and looking forward to coming back and seeing out the last year of his contract," Cook said.

"That will be a huge boost and, if we avoid injuries and there aren't many international call-ups, then it'll be largely the same team as last year.

"Hopefully the squad have the ambition to keep pushing on after making superb progress in the summer."