Cook leaves Kent after promotion season for coaching return

After winning the wooden spoon last year, Kent recovered from a slow start to this season to win eight of their final 11 Championship matches and clinch promotion back to Division One. The achievement was the highlight of Cook's three-year tenure as director of cricket, having succeeded Paul Downton in late 2023.

Cook said that he is planning a return to his "greatest passion" and will search for a "more hands-on role" as a coach. He will be involved in the recruitment process for and handover to a successor, and Kent said in a statement that while they were "naturally disappointed" to lose Cook, they respected his decision.

"Leading the cricket department at Kent has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career," Cook, who played for the club from 2005-12 before a stint as bowling coach, said. "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club and am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together across the men's game, women's game and talent pathway.

"It has also been a privilege to be a part of the professional squad's development. They are exceptionally talented and entering the prime years of their careers, which will allow them to enjoy a strong period of success… The club is now in a position to move beyond simply competing and to expect to challenge for honours across all formats."

Cook does not yet have his next job lined up. "While I don't yet know exactly what the next chapter will look like, I'm excited by the opportunities that may lie ahead," he added. "I leave with enormous pride in what has been achieved and look forward to seeing many more Kent players go on to represent both Kent and England in the future."

"The first two years of Tier Two cricket have certainly been a rollercoaster of emotions, but they have also provided a huge amount of learning for everyone," Arman said. "I am particularly proud of the foundations we have built across the Kent Women's team and talent pathway."

Michael Wilshaw, Kent's chief executive, said: "Both Simon and Lucy have worked extremely hard and achieved significant accomplishments to create a long-lasting strategy for both Kent men's and women's cricket that will benefit the club in the long term.

"We fully respect their decisions, and will work closely with both of them to ensure a smooth transition as we head into 2027. It is a significant change for us, and new leadership in our professional cricket department will have a strong foundation to build from as we plan ahead for the future, thanks to them."