A slow left-arm spinner who usually opened the bowling, Cooke began playing for Otago soon after he arrived in Dunedin, appearing in the annual match against Canterbury in January 1880 at the age of 17.
A young left-handed bowler who specialized in slow deliveries, Cooke started playing for Otago shortly after relocating to Dunedin and made his debut in the annual match against Canterbury in January 1880 at the tender age of 17.